NONPROFIT

from KSAE Association & Meetings, Vol. 6, Spring 2022

FOCUS

AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE PRINT PRODUCTS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

By Conquest Graphics

Nonprofit organizations are dedicated to making a difference in the community. Many of these taxexempt organizations serve the public interest with limited monetary resources, which can negatively impact its outreach efforts. Whether focused on raising funds or increasing awareness about its mission, nonprofit groups must make careful selections with regard to how to utilize the budget.

Organizations usually base these decisions on its objectives and how much money it can spare for promotional initiatives. Fortunately, there are several print marketing options that are both affordable and effective in sending a strong message.

Below are the most popular, lower-cost print marketing pieces utilized by nonprofit organizations to make a statement and create results.

Business cards

Business cards are inexpensive and essential to making a solid first impression with an organization’s official communications. They add a touch of professionalism to inperson meetings and are easy to distribute.

The design should include relevant contact information and branding, as well as any mission statements or taglines.

Another benefit of ordering business cards is that they are a low-risk project for individuals learning how to utilize an online printing service, as they comparatively low cost and available in smaller quantities.

Postcards

Personalized designs and tailored content can target a specific audience. If an organization would like to reach its audience directly, it can work with a printing company to utilize its bulk mailing service. With a well-crafted appeal mailer or informational postcard, one can introduce itself to a new audience and raise awareness or donations with a small cost of entry.

When planning to do a mailing project, it may seem less expensive on the surface to mail the postcards out after receiving them from the printer. However, organizations can take advantage of significant postage discounts by having a mail house do the work.

Because they do high volumes of mail, a mail house has the necessary permits with the USPS to perform “standard presort” or “marketing” mail, which is often much more cost effective than using stamps or FirstClass mail. Many printing companies have in-house mailing teams that allow postcards to be printed and mailed at the same time, by the same company. This cuts down on transit costs by not having to ship the postcards from one place to another, as well.

To mail with a printing company, just provide a mailing list along with the artwork for the postcard, and they handle the rest. Since they are managing the entire project from start to finish, organizations don’t have to worry about learning USPS regulations on things like required sizes, paper thickness, etc. – these are all things your mail house will take care of.

Experienced printing companies and mail houses can often provide helpful information for those new to mailing or printing. If there is not a list of donors or recipients to mail to, a mail house actually can purchase a list based on the desired audience and target area.

Flyers

Flyers are a basic yet cost-effective marketing tool that organizations can distribute anywhere from bulletin boards to counter tops. The small size and portal nature of flyers makes them an efficient means for promoting events and driving the public’s attention to organizational websites or social media, where they can learn more about the mission.

Posters

If an upgrade in size is needed, posters are a simple and strategic option to include in promotional efforts. Posters provide adequate space for a unique design and artwork that highlights messaging to bring attention to the organization’s cause. Posters are part art and part advertising.

Calendars

Calendars are relatively inexpensive to produce and are an effective way to spread an organization’s message to a wide variety of locations.

They also are an excellent fundraising tool when used as the focus for an end-of-year giving campaign. Images related to the organization’s cause can enhance the impact of calendars. Many groups print calendars to use as gifts in place of holiday cards.

Brochures

Brochures are some of the most cost-effective print products for nonprofit organizations on a budget.

Thanks to the number of ways to fold a brochure, there are many different ways to approach the design of such an item, so this opens up new creative possibilities that might not necessarily cost too much to create.

Whether it’s a trifold or a z-fold brochure, there is plenty of space to get a nonprofit’s story across in an abbreviated fashion so the brochure can have maximal impact.

Most nonprofits are diminutive in both budget and staff size. The way these groups decide to spend their organizational funds is ultimately a personal choice, however cost-effective print products are available to help support community causes. F

This article was originally published by Conquest Graphics, one of the largest and oldest privately held printing companies in the nation. Conquest Graphics offers a Nonprofit Print Grant program to give thanks to those who improve the lives of those around them; applications are available online to enroll as a partner. In addition, its technology-driven marketing platform offers printing, advanced mailing, fulfillment and more. For more information or to read more from the Conquest Graphics blog, visit www.conquestgraphics.com.

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