Like many nonprofits, The Ottawa Mission face a common challenge: donations tend to dip during the summer months. To keep vital programs running, they needed a fresh approach – one that would inspire donors to give, even during a typically slow season.
That’s where Good Works came in. We built a campaign around a powerful story: The Mission’s innovative food truck program. This initiative brings hot meals to food-insecure communities beyond downtown Ottawa, meeting people where they are. The Mission food truck program was the perfect focus of our storytelling, we knew would connect deeply with donors.
Stephanie Miller
CFRE Senior Director, Community and Donor Development, The Ontario SPCA
A targeted direct mail piece told the food truck program’s story in a way that connected emotionally with donors. Meta an SEM digital advertisements reinforced the message, expanding reach and engagement. Coordinated email communications provided further touchpoints, ensuring a seamless donor experience across platforms.
The campaign exceeded all expectations, generating 11% more revenue than anticipated, with direct mail response rates more than twice. Beyond the financial success, the campaign raised awareness about The Mission’s expansive community support, setting a new benchmark for summer fundraising efforts.
Looking ahead, we have integrated these insights into future campaigns, continuing to refine our storytelling and multi-channel outreach. The success of this initiative has reinforced the importance of meeting donors with the right message, at the right time, through the right channels.
We’re chatty! We’d love to talk with you about the fundraising challenges you’re facing, the trends in the sector, the solutions we can bring to the table – you name it! Reach out to book 30-minute, no-commitment discovery discussion with us.
