Our Durham Rescue Mission (DRM) partner needed to expand their shelter to accommodate more men in their program. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this need. Upon learning of the impending challenge facing the Durham community, a generous individual supporter of the Mission stepped forward in February 2021 and committed $1 million as a matching challenge to help Durham Rescue Mission finish its campaign and increase its capacity to house people in need in the community.

As our summer appeal lineup was already underway, we quickly strategized with DRM and moved away from their summer control appeals to replace them with a special two-part campaign in May and June of 2021 for major donors and general donors. The first of these two mailings was a handwritten notecard (using Real Pen), followed by a 9×12 prospectus package outlining the campaign opportunity, the match, and how each donor could meaningfully participate in achieving this great goal for the Durham community.

The results were astonishing. At just 60 days maturity, the first mailing exceeded revenue goals by 28% and delivered 22% higher net revenue per piece mailed. Even more encouraging, the second mailing, at 30 days in market, has already exceeded revenue goals by 33%.

MAJOR DONOR PROSPECTUS PACKAGE