Direct Mail
Canada Post Strike Updates: What This Means for Direct Mail
Okay, fellow direct mail fundraisers: there’s postal strike news. December 18th update: Direct mail is back up and running –
Okay, fellow direct mail fundraisers: there’s postal strike news. December 18th update: Direct mail is back up and running –
Most people living in Canada have absolutely no idea that Canada Post is vital to our sector and the work
The Power of Giving Tuesday What started in 2012 as a modest initiative by the 92nd Street Y in New
It’s been a long time (about six years, in fact!) since direct mail fundraisers have had the threat of a
There’s a painting in my office that I bought it at Holly’s wedding back in 2019. It’s a portrait of
If you have younger children in your life, you might be familiar with the Elephant and Piggie books. It’s a
I’m a bit of a numbers nerd – and in all my fundraising roles I end up championing the power
There are moments in your life in which you can’t help but pause and reflect… Often, these moments mark the
I’ll never forget reading those poll results way back in 2004. If there was one pivotal moment in my career
For many of us fundraisers, we’re not far off that magical time of the year: planning season. The time of
We know you’ve been patiently waiting, and it’s finally here – the 2024 Canadian Direct Mail Benchmarks Report is now ready
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my 10+ years working in the charitable sector, it is: You are
I remember my ‘aha moment’ like it was yesterday. I was at a CAGP event at Saint Paul University in
Even though this blog about how to build a fundraising story bank is coming up on five years old, it’s still
It’s time: we’re headed into the calendar year-end. If you’re anything like us, the chaos is in full swing! So,
Your integrated fundraising campaign is like a puzzle. Each piece – the great story, the channels you choose to deliver
Have you recently run a Facebook campaign using a lookalike audience? Did it make you doubt whether or not they’re
It has been a little while since I last reported on the state of direct mail production. In that time,
In a bit of insight often attributed to both Hemingway and Banksy (but probably originating from neither artist), there’s an
In the 2023 edition of our Canadian Direct Mail Benchmarks Report we cover a lot of ground. Along the way,
Soon my fellow Good Workers and I will be releasing this year’s Canadian Direct Mail Benchmarks Report. As I was
Are you wondering how direct mail fared in the second year of the pandemic? Are you looking for reliable, Canadian-made
Here at Good Works, we’re all about relationships — more specifically, the relationships you build with your donors. We always
Ok, I realize I’m a little late to the game in sharing resolutions for 2022, but one of MY resolutions
So, how did your direct mail program do this year? That’s the question that’s on every mail fundraiser’s mind as
As we approach the end of 2021, our uncertain future seems more uncertain than it has before. As if the
It’s officially November, which means fundraisers everywhere are gorging on discount Halloween candy and feverishly finalizing their year-end campaigns. And
Have you ever heard the story of how fundraising helped to build the Statue of Liberty? It’s a tale that’s
If like me you’ve been a fundraiser for a while, you’ve heard mid-level donor and mid-level giving program come up
Let me start off by apologizing for the bad news that I am about to share; summer is coming to
It may surprise you, but there are professionals in the charitable sector who think using a storytelling approach in fundraising
You are likely far from embracing the fall and you’re hopefully still in denial that winter soon follows. But as
Did you catch our recent webinar on planned giving and the pandemic? If not, you should know that the pandemic
It’s no secret that new donors are worth their weight in gold – sometimes literally (Yes, acquisition campaigns are expensive!).
On May 11, 2021 Vitalik Buterin shocked the philanthropic world when he donated $1.2 billion (USD) worth of Shiba Inu
I’ve been a partner at Good Works for 25 years now. But, before I became a Good Worker, I was
More of our clients, and charities in general, are dipping their toes (or fully diving in!) to advertising on Facebook.
Poor direct mail. It’s been the unpopular cousin of other fundraising channels in many people’s minds for years now. To
What single, magical tool can help you generate revenue, deepen donor loyalty, uncover donor interests, upgrade giving, AND find new
The wait is over! For those of you looking for up-to-date, pandemic-proof, all-Canadian direct mail benchmarks, look no further. The
When we set about to bake our direct mail fundraising cake, it is easy to get excited about some of
Sooner than you think, it’ll be crucial for you to better understand the giving behaviours of Gen Xers and Millennials.
In the world of fundraising, a legacy gift is valued as the pinnacle of giving. It is the coveted brass
It’s a universal rule in fundraising. One of the first things you might learn when you take a fundraising course
We’ve all had it happen. Things are humming along and all the ducks are waddling along in their rows when
I have a feeling I’m on the cusp of a dreaded parenting rite of passage with my almost 2-year-old: the
This year is a great time to strengthen your monthly giving program. By focusing your time and energy on monthly
Think of life as a story. More specifically, think of it as a book – an autobiography to be precise.
How to Write Direct Mail for Donors Who Don’t Read Direct Mail 💌 Here at Good Works, we’re passionate about
Here’s a fact you’ve probably never considered before: we human beings are the only species on earth that lives with
In case you missed it, Canada Post made some changes earlier this year that may affect your direct mail program.
If you don’t know the destination, how will you know when you get there? It seems we spend a lot
They say that your relationship with money impacts your fundraising. What you learned about money growing up, how you feel
You’re a fundraiser in today’s digital world. You already know that email is an incredibly cost-effective way to get your
Just last week, I read this tweet showed up in my newsfeed. Now admittedly, this is pretty old, but it
All things COVID aside, there’s never been a better time to be Canadian – amiright? Nice, friendly people, free healthcare,
Fundraisers always ponder questions about offers. How much should I ask for? What would a donor pay for this? Or
If you’re a fundraiser, you’ve likely encountered someone within your organization (or at a dinner party!) who thinks of fundraising
You have a copywriting deadline to meet, but how are you supposed to deliver high impact copy, without spending every
The COVID-19 pandemic has sent a lot of charity leaders into a tailspin. In this unknown environment, many of us
Days are getting shorter, the nights a little cooler, and my work from home attire now includes a lot more
For those of you that are savvy veterans of the direct mail fundraising game, you know that we are heading
It’s August. For some, that means sweltering days spent in the pool, in the lake, or in the air conditioning.
Over the years, I’ve heard dozens of reasons why fundraisers don’t think that now is the right time to invest
Building a digital program is kind of like baking a macaron: you need the right ingredients, combined in the right
A very long time ago when I worked in print, colleagues were concerned that the proliferation of computers would sound
For many charities, COVID-19 has impacted not just on revenue overall, but the mix of channels that drive it. As
How much thought goes into the creative of an appeal? In short … a lot! Above all, direct mail projects
It’s officially summer vacation season, so if you haven’t yet gotten your hands on this year’s All-Canadian Direct Mail Benchmarks
Where we’ve been In today’s direct mail marketplace, the fundraiser’s biggest struggle is the search for new donors. No matter
It’s here! I’m super excited to finally share with you the 2020 Canadian Direct Mail Benchmarks Study. And you can
Did you know that of the 86 thousand registered charities in Canada, the overwhelming majority are small charities? Most of
As you’re no doubt experiencing, COVID-19 is impacting fundraising at every level – and legacy giving is no exception. But
We have two big dogs at my house. They eat tons of food. They need to get haircuts (because they’re
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.
