Postage Going Up

On January 27, first class postage is going up to 55 cents, a 5-cent increase. This is the largest increase in almost 30-years. As this article states: “The Postal Service lost $3.9 billion in 2018, attributing the losses to drops in mail volume and the costs of...

Improving the Acquisition Experience

Allegories for Unintegrated Direct Mail Acquisition Testing Activities: • Tailor fitting a funeral suit • Climbing a tall ladder on a building that’s on fire • Planting orange trees above the freeze line Don’t get me wrong. I love direct mail. But sometimes, context...

My Fall Mailbox

Like many of you, my mailbox is stuffed with nonprofit appeals between October 1st and December 31st. Here is a recap of the direct mail I received this year, and the insights I noted: • I received an even 50 pieces of direct mail. Thirty-five pieces were appeals from...

Fundraising Trends for 2019

Last week, Analytical Ones completed its survey of fundraising professionals to gain insights on trends for 2019. Overall, the outlook among fundraising professionals is mixed. As many expect a good year as those who are forecasting it will not be a good year. As one...