Put a smile on your face.

Save the Children uses a “bounce-back” strategy to engage monthly donors and increase the personal connection they feel with their sponsored child, while also encouraging them to make an additional one-time gift to help other children in need. Since recipients are already child sponsors, getting them to include an additional donation was challenging. To engage the donors, we included 3 animal masks that they could sign and return to be forwarded to their sponsored child.

Below: Photo of children in Malawi with masks. ©2016 Save the Children

Masks

Buckslip showing sample Bounce Backs

Helping to save children every day.

By testing a wide variety of innovative concepts across marketing channels with a variety of donors, we’ve been able to help grow Save the Children’s donor base, increase giving and make a difference for vulnerable children in the world.

Each August, Save the Children sends select donors a calendar featuring the beautiful faces of girls and boys as a thank you gift. In 2018, the calendar was extended to 15 months, so donors could start using it sooner, in October. In the 2019 test package, donors were asked to vote for an image for the 2020 calendar. A no-ask voting email was created as well, to create more donor engagement.

Outer Envelope, Letter and Sticker Reply

Save the Children Annual Sponsorship Update.

Once a year, Save the Children sends an informative update to its child sponsors. This no-ask package includes a card with the child’s picture and current information; an update from the country office; a brochure highlighting sponsorship work in the sponsored child’s country; and a letter-writing kit for the sponsor to use to write to their sponsored child.

This no-ask mailing helps keep sponsors engaged and feeling good about the work they help make possible.

Country brochure, Write to Your Child Insert

Making matching gift campaigns more impactful.

Save the Children is a leading international non-governmental organization that promotes children’s rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries. A core part of their mission is to create lasting change. This brochure uses a reveal fold to reinforce the idea that your donation will do more than help children survive — it will help them thrive. It was featured in the new creative designed for their spring 2015 Matching Gift Campaign, which lifted response by more than 30%.

See the Matching Gift Campaign creative that generated an index of 130.

The team at Sage stays abreast of all the current trends, both in the nonprofit and commercial spheres. This keeps the ideas fresh and relevant. I can always count on their creative team to bring me innovation that keeps our appeals compelling.

Sarah Leggin
Associate Director, Direct Response Fundraising
Save the Children