{"id":5982,"date":"2021-06-26T10:35:02","date_gmt":"2021-06-26T14:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postalgia.ink\/?p=5982"},"modified":"2021-06-26T10:35:02","modified_gmt":"2021-06-26T14:35:02","slug":"delight-your-donors-with-a-handwritten-note","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daviesis.io\/postalgia\/delight-your-donors-with-a-handwritten-note\/","title":{"rendered":"Delight Your Donors With A Handwritten Note"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Key Topics<\/strong>
\nWhy Do Handwritten Fundraising Letters Get Read?<\/a>
\nHow Can Nonprofits and Charities Showcase Their Creativity?<\/a>
\nWhy Handwritten Thank You Letters Are Powerful<\/a>
\nGet Started Today<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Infographic\"<\/p>\n

When was the last time you received a personalized handwritten letter in the mail? According to recent statistics, it\u2019s pretty rare. Based on data from the Postal Regulatory Commission, the average American receives only ten pieces of personal mail per year. We (the royal we) just don\u2019t send mail that much anymore.<\/p>\n

So when anyone gets a handwritten note, it is by definition extraordinary. Why not take advantage of this fact to delight your target audience? Why send an email or a generic piece of direct mail when you can send something remarkable? Let\u2019s talk about how this can work for you.<\/p>\n

If you are a nonprofit organization, charity or political party, a handwritten note will leave a memorable impression and help you stand out in a sea of generic ad pieces. Let\u2019s take a quick look at why handwritten mail has such a positive impact on our clients.<\/p>\n

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Why Do Handwritten Fundraising Letters Get Read?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Fundraisers know that no matter how strong a written piece is, it might as well not get sent at all if it doesn\u2019t get open or read. Why don\u2019t generic pieces work? Simple. Mailboxes today are filled with a steady stream of junk, bills and notices from the tax collector you\u2019d probably like to avoid. Not exactly an occasion your donors look forward to each day. Let\u2019s face it: most pieces end up going directly into the recycling bin.<\/p>\n

But the numbers around handwritten notes are clear: they get read. Email marketing has an average open rate of 22%. Not bad, but when you compare that to handwritten mail – which enjoys an open rate of 99%<\/a> – the advantages are clear.<\/p>\n

And when you think about it, it makes sense. It\u2019s hard for new donors or even major donors who give regularly to ignore an envelope with their name and address handwritten on the front.<\/p>\n

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How Can Nonprofits and Charities Showcase Their Creativity?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

There is nothing that says donor communications needs to be boring. This is a big advantage that handwritten mail has over generic email or SMS messages. A handwritten card is the perfect creative platform to showcase your organization\u2019s personality or that of your executive director, board member or other staff you\u2019d like to highlight in your next fundraising piece.<\/p>\n

Here at Postalgia, we encourage clients to get creative with every element of a handwritten piece. They can choose the type of paper or card or even select the type of handwriting and ink colour! No other form of communication is as rich in detail and personality as handwritten notes. You and your team can really put your stamp on it – figuratively and literally.<\/p>\n

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Why Handwritten Thank You Letters Are Powerful<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

One of the many reasons why handwritten notes are so powerful is that the recipient intuitively knows that putting a note in the mail takes much more effort than sending an email or text message. Because everyone at one point in their lives has taken the time to write a letter, put it in an envelope, find an address, throw on a stamp and toss it in a mailbox: they instinctively know the effort that goes into putting something in the mail.<\/p>\n

After all, donor relations is all about creating a personal relationship between the organization and the prospective donor. Showing a donor they are worth your time and effort illustrates how important they are without saying it directly.<\/p>\n

Combined with personalization (adding a donor\u2019s name, fundraising campaign they donated to, the amount given, who referred them, etc), a handwritten note will make your donors feel seen and appreciated, in turn making them feel good. These personalized notes can and should be a key aspect of your donor outreach efforts.<\/p>\n

Adding a personal touch by sending your audience a handwritten piece will go a long way to strengthening donor retention and expanding your donor base.<\/p>\n

In fact, there are many unique opportunities to incorporate handwritten mail into every part of your fundraising strategy. To give you some ideas, here are a few that we recommend to the organizations we work with:<\/p>\n

A personalized thank-you note to a first-time donor from the executive director;<\/p>\n