With a few weeks of the year already under our belts and so many of our resolutions continuing to take center stage, we asked our clients to share their “direct response aspirations” for the new year. We’d like to share some of the hopes and goals shared by a few of our nonprofit partners! Read on to hear what folks from some of your favorite organizations hope to achieve in 2024:
“We are better integrating our direct mail and telemarketing channels and we’re excited to see how that will help improve the donor experience. We are also leaning further into the use of digital printing technology to provide our donors with highly targeted content related to their behavior and interests.”
Steven Groeninger, Director, Offline Marketing, USA for UNHCR
“At Autism Speaks, as we embark on the New Year, our resolution for 2024 is centered around refining and improving our strategies to grow our base. It is imperative that we continue our growth and rally constituents, urging them to take action to address the tremendous challenges facing the autism community.”
Kelli Seely, Chief Marketing Officer, Autism Speaks
“Our 2024 resolution would be to continue to lean into traditional marketing approaches to strengthen and further grow our monthly giving program while also remaining nimble and reaching new audiences via innovative fundraising strategies like gaming, Peer-to-peer, and CTV.”
Mehreen Mazhar, VP, Development Operations & IDM, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
“We want to continue to hone our acquisition and outreach in a way that broadens our donor base while growing revenue. Exploring new messengers and new methods, like canvassing, to accompany our existing direct mail and digital programs are exciting next steps for us.”
Liz Dunning, Chief Development & Engagement Officer, Brady United
“To continue to learn valuable insights through effective testing and to gain additional donors though direct mail and digital acquisition as well as through our canvassing efforts to acquire monthly donors.”
Susan Gloede Swan, Chief Development Officer, American Lung Association
“Here at Special Olympics, our direct response New Year’s resolutions for 2024 are to find more ways to improve overall retention metrics for our recurring gift program and to continue to push investment and growth into this channel. Growing our sustainer program has been a large initiative for us over the last several years, but now that we are steadily growing our file, our goal is to continue to make refinements/improvements so we can boost retention.”
Monica Muten, Sr. Director, Direct Response Marketing, Special Olympics
“Given the continued softness in direct response acquisition, we think the opportunity this year is to focus on retention of our most loyal supporters. We are ramping up cultivation efforts, as well as highlighting alternative ways for donors to give — such as through Donor Advised Funds, qualified charitable distributions from IRA accounts, and monthly giving. The goal is to sustain our overall revenue and make wise choices around acquisition until new channels or ways of acquiring become stronger.”
Danielle Trafton, Director, Direct Response, Boston Children’s Hospital
“We’re challenged with reinvigorating our fundraising program at Easterseals. We’ve introduced new channels and programs and we’re continuing to test and make big changes with existing efforts. I want our pilot programs to prove viable and become a permanent part of our fundraising mix and I’d like to see our existing revenue channels, do more and be better — it’s bigger than beating a control. Ideally, new channel activity will positively impact legacy fundraising programs and audiences and give us the little bit of flexibility we need to make the changes we need to make. If we can roll-out pilots, roll-out new controls and make the overarching messaging updates we want to make to reflect where we are as an organization — leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services…then I’ll be very happy with 2024!”
Dana Bunke, SVP, Direct Response and Integrated Fundraising, Easterseals
Each of the folks that we heard from are fueled by their commitment to their organization’s causes, and we find that dedication equally inspiring. Like our clients, we’re truly excited about the incredible possibilities and opportunities to be had in 2024. As we embark on what we’re sure will be another promising chapter, we want to invite everyone to embrace the power of their own hope and determination as we work towards driving positive changes in our communities.