Challenge

 

Historically,  the Advancement office requested personalized, yet one-off materials for every donor meeting and pitch. The messaging was inconsistent, the branding non-existent, and the turnaround too short. The net effect was a significant outlay of design capital for minimal results which hurt the college’s fundraising efforts.

 

Solution

 

In order to build the pipeline of giving, I began with a long-term strategy that included developing consistent messaging and effective branding that could be leveraged across a variety of initiatives.  My design team and copy editor developed an advancement-specific campaign boilerplate and tagline emphasizing how donor gifts impact students every single day.  The campaign design guide and text are used in conversations with donors, across our social media and editorial communications, as well as our print materials, and communicate the impact their donations have on the students at FLC.  Stewardship is encouraged through a printed and digital impact report each year that contains rich storytelling around the impacts donors have on the people and work of Fort Lewis College. We also developed a clear and easy process for people to give to the school.  The last 4 years have been the largest overall fundraising years in the history of the college and the 4th consecutive year of exceeding our ambitious goals.