Learn more about analytics and research best practices, as well as real world examples and solutions for nonprofits.

The Force Awakens?

theater image I’ll be darned.

Direct mail acquisition seems to be making a comeback.

OK, perhaps not to the degree of a Star Wars $250MM opening weekend comeback. But as I am reviewing recent acquisition (and reactivation of deeply lapsed donors) results, I was pleasantly surprised to see that new donor (and reactivated donor) counts aren’t falling.

Even better news is that retention of Second Year donors are improving for the first time since Mark Hamill’s last film any of us can recall seeing (which any fan would know is the 1978 film Corvette Summer).

The question is whether this comeback will last, or is it a momentary pause in direct mail’s inevitable demise?

Give your donors a rest from fundraising? It’s going to cost you!

by Bill Jacobs | Jul 9, 2024

This post co-authored by me and long-time friend and former colleague, Jeff Brooks, the most vigilant blogger in fundraising I know. One of most counterintuitive truths about fundraising is this: The more recently a donor gave, the more likely they are to give now....

Fundraising Forward

by Bill Jacobs | Jun 3, 2024

Postage rates and problematic delivery are making me rethink how fundraising might need to adapt moving forward. In 2024, First Class postage is a whopping 73 cents (who knew when those “forever” stamps don’t put the amount on them?) and nonprofit postage is between...

Test First Class Postage this Fall

by Bill Jacobs | May 6, 2024

One of the disturbing USPS trends – other than raising the cost of postage every year – is the bulk delivery of appeal letters with nonprofit postage. Over the past year, when I check my mailbox for the appeal letters I’m seeded on, I have noticed that I receive all...