Sanky Blog

It wouldn’t be the holidays without the annual DMFA Holiday Luncheon. But what set this year’s event apart was that guests were given an unusual gift… industry experts Harry Lynch of SankyNet and Vivianne Potter of Amnesty International USA shared 12 ideas to boost your bottom line by December 31st. This informative 30 minute session was filled with key online fundraising and direct mail tips!

Knowing that times are still difficult for many organizations, DMFA board members decided to turn their holiday party into a fun, festive educational experience. Participants were treated to not only great food and company but also valuable lessons in last minute fundraising ideas including:

During the presentation, Harry and Vivianne discussed these and many other techniques that can be used to make a difference in an organization’s online and direct mail fundraising programs.

It was a perfect way to celebrate the season of sharing!

SankyNet is always excited to partner with an old friend to venture on a new and exciting project. That’s why, when Covenant House asked us to redesign their extensive international website, we were happy to expand our partnership. SankyNet specializes in website design for nonprofits.

Covenant House Homepage

In order to build a website that would address all Covenant House’s needs, SankyNet initiated a series of strategic discussions with key Covenant House staff. Through a survey/study, we gleaned the strengths and weaknesses of their existing site. At the end, the entire site required a complete overhaul to maximize the latest fundraising/marketing technological techniques and features – while dovetailing with Covenant House’s online strategic fundraising strategy.

A fresh online creative plan was executed to tell the dynamic story of Covenant House and the thousands of at-risk kids they serve. The new website needed to connect with donors, advocates, homeless kids, and other organizations that confront the problem of teen homelessness – addressing each of these unique audience’s needs.

SankyNet launched the new website in October 2009 and we are proud to report that not only is the site aesthetically beautiful … it is fully optimized for fundraising and marketing!

The site showcases dynamic homepage features, site wide fundraising and advocacy callouts, a targeted gift catalog, portals for homeless kids to find help, and an entire section sharing research conducted by the Covenant House Institute. As well, the site is enhanced for search engine optimization (SEO).

For more than five years, SankyNet has collaborated with Covenant House to produced award-winning fundraising appeals, newsletters, and campaign micro-sites – and we look forward to this continued partnership.

You can view our redesign of the Covenant House International website at: http://www.covenanthouse.org.

KaBOOM! – an organization whose mission is to save play for America’s children – recently presented SankyNet and SankyDirect with an exciting challenge: develop a fully integrated grassroots individual giving program to help augment their already robust corporate partnership program.

Together, SankyNet and SankyDirect will integrate online, email, direct mail, and social networking components to fully engage KaBOOM!’s donors and supporters.

SankyNet will start this process by developing an inaugural online fundraising and communications program for KaBOOM!. This program includes both a monthly e-newsletter and a series of fundraising email appeals. To make sure these online tools are used most effectively, SankyNet will use a twofold strategy. We will both append email addresses from the KaBOOM! offline database, and also acquire additional email addresses through various marketing and social networking campaigns.

SankyNet wants for KaBOOM! to make the greatest possible impact on potential donors, so we will also revise both the homepage and donation pages of their website. Through reorganizing, redesigning, and expanding these elements, SankyNet will use its online expertise to fully optimize the KaBOOM! website into a powerful fundraising tool.

SankyDirect also has exciting plans to enhance KaBOOM!’s messaging. In the coming year, SankyDirect will design a new direct mail renewal program to help KaBOOM! improve their communication with current and past donors.

While developing these exciting new programs, SankyDirect will work with SankyNet to perform extensive message testing on all online and offline communications. Through testing what message yields the best response, our goal is to help KaBOOM! find the optimum voice to communicate with their donors volunteers, and sponsors.

SankyNet and SankyDirect are proud to embark on this joint venture with KaBOOM!. KaBOOM! works across the country with the mission of providing a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. We are excited to help KaBOOM! make America a safer place to play!

Learn more about KaBOOM! at www.kaboom.org.

SankyDirect has a long history of helping health care organizations with direct mail fundraising. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with both Holy Name Health Care Foundation and the Lymphoma Research Foundation!

When Holy Name Hospital, which has brought quality health care to New Jersey for more than 80 years, needed to develop a new direct mail program, they knew SankyDirect was the company to call. Working closely with the hospital’s fundraising arm, the Holy Name Health Care Foundation, SankyDirect is developing a strategy to ensure Holy Name Hospital has the funds they need to serve their patients in the year to come.

A crucial part of SankyDirect’s strategy is to send a targeted mailing to past patients of the hospital, reminding them of the quality care they once received. Through encouraging patients to show their thanks by becoming supporters of the hospital, SankyDirect is developing a dynamic messaging strategy that is bringing a new voice to Holy Name Hospital’s direct mail program.

SankyDirect is also excited about developing a new direct mail appeal for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. The Lymphoma Research Foundation is the nation’s largest lymphoma-focused voluntary health organization devoted exclusively to funding lymphoma research and providing the public with critical information about the disease.

SankyDirect looks forward to working with both Holy Name Health Care Foundation and the Lymphoma Research Foundation, continuing our long tradition of providing direct mail fundraising solutions for the health care organizations.

This fall, SankyDirect will begin working with Delta Society, a dynamic organization who passionately believes that people are healthier and happier because companion, service and therapy animals enrich and positively impact their everyday lives.

Utilizing 32 years of direct mail experience, SankyDirect will produce a series of fall renewals to encourage continued support of Delta Society. Additionally, SankyDirect will implement an acquisition element to this fundraising campaign. This strategic method of obtaining lists of potential new donors holds the promise of dramatically increasing Delta Society’s income for years to come.

After completing this fall campaign, SankyDirect and Delta Society will continue to partner in the coming year to produce a full direct mail program. Both organizations are excited about the potential this new relationship holds!

Together with a committed team of volunteers, Delta Society brings a variety of service and therapy animals into hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and schools. By encouraging positive interactions between animals and people, they advance human health and well-being in the people they serve – the elderly, the disabled, schoolchildren, and hospital patients. Learn more about Delta Society at www.deltasociety.org.

SankyDirect looks forward to working with Delta Society, helping them develop a DirectMail program that is as dynamic as their mission.

For three days in April, approximately 4,000 fundraising executives, nonprofit CEOs, volunteer leaders, and others interested in philanthropy will attend the 2010 AFP International Conference on Fundraising in Baltimore, Maryland.

As part of this prestigious conference, industry experts – and resident Sanky gurus – Harry Lynch and Paul Habig will be addressing the timely question, Is your fundraising email just like direct mail but with an “E”?

During their session, which takes place on Tuesday, April 13th, Harry and Paul will talk about the remarkable similarities between email and traditional direct mail … and the profound differences. You’ll also learn how some of your finely honed direct mail skills DO apply … but that your assumptions about what works and what doesn’t just might sink your online campaigns.

Paul and Harry will share tips and best practices covering email fundraising and answer your questions such as:

1. How do I build my email list?
2. How often do I email … and ask for money?
3. How do I measure success?
4. Is anyone really making money with email?

Harry Lynch, is the CEO of Sanky Communications and SankyNet, and is legendary in the Direct Marketing industry. In 1998, Harry directed the launch of SCI’s award-winning Internet marketing division, SankyNet, and continues to be actively involved in the creative and strategy for the agency’s 15 online clients. Harry has served as President of the DMFA, Vice-President of the Greater New York Chapter of the AFP, and Vice-Chair of the ADFRCO. Today, he is Vice-Chair for External Relations on the Board of International AFP.

His co-speaker, Paul Habig, who is the Executive Vice President of SankyNet, has developed multi-faceted online strategies for more than 50 non-profit organizations including Covenant House, PetSmart Charities, Freedom from Hunger, Cancer Care, Northeast Animal Shelter, Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to being a frequent speaker at DMFA and AFP workshops and conferences, Paul also serves on the board of the DMFA.

Together, Harry and Paul bring nearly 40 years of experience to the podium in Baltimore, Maryland. From the birth of online fundraising, to the ever-changing medium that has evolved over the last ten years, both speakers will share their knowledge of today’s best email practices. Join them on Tuesday, April 13 from 1:30PM – 2:45PM.

To register, please visit the AFP 2010 International Conference on Fundraising website.

On Wednesday, November 11th, Sanky experts, Harry Lynch and Paul Habig will present at the New Jersey AFP’s Conference on Philanthropy. As part of this annual symposium, Harry and Paul will be addressing the timely question, Is your fundraising email is just like direct mail but with an “E”?

During their session, which takes place at the Hilton Parsippany, Harry and Paul will talk about the remarkable similarities between email and traditional direct mail … and the profound differences. You’ll also learn how some of your finely honed direct mail skills DO apply … but that your assumptions about what works and what doesn’t just might sink your online campaigns.

Paul and Harry will share tips and best practices covering email fundraising and answer your questions such as:

1. How do I build my email list?
2. How often do I email … and ask for money?
3. How do I measure success?
4. Is anyone really making money with email?

Harry Lynch, is the CEO of Sanky Communications and SankyNet, and is legendary in the Direct Marketing industry. In 1998, Harry directed the launch of SCI’s award-winning Internet marketing division, SankyNet, and continues to be actively involved in the creative and strategy for the agency’s 15 online clients. Harry has served as President of the DMFA, Vice-President of the Greater New York Chapter of the AFP, and Vice-Chair of the ADFRCO. Today, he is Vice-Chair for External Relations on the Board of International AFP.

His co-speaker, Paul Habig, who is the Executive Vice President of SankyNet, has developed multi-faceted online strategies for more than 50 non-profit organizations including Covenant House, PetSmart Charities, Freedom from Hunger, Cancer Care, Northeast Animal Shelter, Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to being a frequent speaker at DMFA and AFP workshops and conferences, Paul also serves on the board of the DMFA.

Together, Harry and Paul bring nearly 40 years of experience to the podium in Parsippany, New Jersey. From the birth of online fundraising, to the ever-changing medium that has evolved over the last ten years, both speakers will share their knowledge of today’s best email practices. Join them on Wednesday, November 11th from 10:45am to 11:45am. To register, please visit the NJ AFP 2009 Conference on Philantrophy website

SankyNet is proud to begin a new partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. Through proven strategic and creative services, SankyNet will help this dynamic group raise the funds they need to provide help and create hope for thousands of hardworking New Yorkers.

As a part of our new relationship with Catholic Charities, SankyNet will launch an online marketing and fundraising program that will both enhance Catholic Charities’ communication with their donors and increase their ability to raise funds during key times throughout the year.

In the coming months, SankyNet will have the opportunity to produce Catholic Charities’ inaugural e-newsletter, a monthly piece that will connect readers with the real-life impact of their donations. Through the newsletter, Catholic Charities will also have the ability to able to promote events, highlight fundraising opportunities, and advertise their weekly podcast to an online audience.

Additionally, SankyNet is spearheading an innovative four-season marketing campaign for Catholic Charities. This campaign will not only raise critically needed funds, but also raise public awareness about the issues facing struggling New Yorkers throughout the year.

Catholic Charities works to protect, feed, and support New Yorkers in need – non-Catholics and Catholics alike. This dynamic charity uses a network of administered, sponsored and affiliated agencies to deliver, coordinate, and advocate for quality human services and programs that touch thousands of lives every year.

SankyNet is excited to expand the reach of our services by helping Catholic Charities grow their fundraising and marketing efforts!

Visit the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York website to learn more about their work and mission.

Paul Habig, Executive Vice President of SankyNet, will be a special guest at the DMFA’s “Meet the Package of the Year Winners” luncheon in New York City. He will be accepting the top honor for this year’s best email campaign on behalf of SankyNet’s client, PetSmart Charities, Inc® — and joining other winners in a presentation discussing the key elements of each award-winning package. Attendees will learn how SankyNet used a powerful combination of timing and concise creative to develop an emergency relief email which raised substantial funds for the animal victim’s of 2008’s Midwest floods. Paul will also be accepting the DMFA’s Runner-Up Award for an email developed on behalf of Covenant House’s Bed and Blanket campaign.

Each June, members of the Direct Marketing Fundraising Association (DMFA) present their best direct mail and email fundraising campaigns for a chance to win the Package of the Year Award. This year, SankyNet submitted an emergency relief e-appeal on behalf of PetSmart Charities®.

We are pleased to announce that SankyNet’s appeal for PetSmart Charities® won first place! The winning campaign helped raise money for a massive rescue of pets displaced by the historic 2007 Midwest flooding.

A key factor in the success of this campaign was the timeliness of the distribution. SankyNet’s team was able to write copy, design and code a custom HTML template, and distribute the email within 24 hours of the story breaking in the news. Even as emergency relief was still arriving in the affected areas, supporters were responding to the call for help.

In addition to winning first place, SankyNet’s campaign for Covenant House’s Bed and Blanket Matching Gift campaign took the “runner-up” position. This campaign also used careful timing and highly compelling creative to increase response rates.

The campaign usually “drops” in early November and reminds donors of how dangerous winter can be for homeless children. This year, however, much of the country experienced unusually warm temperatures in late fall. SankyNet recommended postponing the distribution until the temperatures dropped. Then on the day most of the East Coast and Midwest woke up to its first frost, Covenant House donors found an urgent appeal about the dangers of freezing children in their inbox.

We are truly grateful to work with dedicated organizations such as PetSmart Charities® and Covenant House, and to help them achieve their online fundraising goals. These awards and honors are a testament to their inspirational and life-saving missions.

View all the DMFA awards from Package of the Year.