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As we dive into the second half of 2024 and approach another pivotal election season, the latest USPS postal rate changes can seem daunting. With proposed increases of 5.6-7.8% across various mail classes starting July 14, strategic planning is more crucial than ever to stay ahead of the curve to ensure your messages cut through all the noise.

Here’s six ways you can best prepare for a successful fall, GivingTuesday, and year-end giving.

1. Utilize USPS promotions. Take advantage of USPS promotions to reduce postage costs while boosting your fundraising efforts. Promotions you can participate in through the end of the year include Reply Mail IMbA, Informed Delivery, and Retargeting.
2. Optimize your mailing lists: Assess and update your databases to avoid sending mail to outdated addresses. Use data analytics to identify and segment your contact lists to create more targeted mailings. And employ predictive models to anticipate which demographics are more likely to respond positively to mailings.
3. Track and plan ahead. Start tracking your mail delivery times now to identify current mail speeds. By doing so, you can more accurately adjust your expected mail dates, response dates, and revenue streams to prepare for potential delays in September and October. Additionally, consult with your print and mailing partners to build out strategic mail schedules.
4. Test different package formats: Consider changing up your creative to stand out and decrease costs—look into mail A10 and #14 packages (political mailings don’t typically use these) and avoid 8.5×11 and flat packages. You can also experiment with consolidating multiple messages into a single mailer.
5. Leverage other communications channels: Up your digital marketing efforts to complement your mail outreach. Shift a portion of your communications to email, paid and social media, and SMS texting to better reach your target audience.
6. Ramp up your post-election giving: Once the election dust settles, it’s prime time for your fundraising efforts. Start planning your GivingTuesday and year-end giving campaigns now so you can create cost-effective and targeted campaigns that stand out.

By staying informed and leveraging available resources, your nonprofit can better manage the impact of increased postage costs and maintain effective fundraising strategies through election season and year-end giving.

Looking for more information?

For more information or assistance with your production strategy, contact us at info@thelukenscompany.com.