Intelligent fulfilment solutions

The University of Edinburgh

Increased alumni donations for the Principal’s Teaching Award Scheme (PTAS) via a highly personalised, multi-channel fundraising campaign.

Education

How we helped The University of Edinburgh

Personalisation
Direct marketing
Fundraising and regular giving communication
Online print fulfilment

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The Principal’s teaching Award Scheme (PTAS) encourages and supports activities that make a significant contribution to the enhancement of learning and teaching at the University of Edinburgh. Available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, this innovative programme provides staff and their students with the opportunity to work together to test and implement new teaching methods and techniques.

The University approached Latcham to manage their fundraising campaign for PTAS during Spring 2019. As PTAS relies on alumni donations for its funding, it was critical that we crafted a campaign that resonated with their alumni.

We deployed a multi-channel approach for the fundraising campaign itself, utilising direct mail, an e-newsletter and even a Spotify playlist. For this campaign, we decided to evoke a mood of nostalgia to help drive donations.

The direct mail campaign was split into 18,400 standard value and 600 high value donors. The standard value pack contained an outer C5 window wallet featuring the University’s tartan and a digital 2nd class stamp, whilst the high value pack had a non-window outer with a real stamp affixed.

Inside the standard value pack was a four page A4 letter from the lead academic for the project, an A4 donation form segmented according to data on recipient giving history, a postcard encouraging donors to complete with their favourite memories of their time at Edinburgh and a business reply envelope.

The postcards that were returned were compiled into a top ten for each different memory. The team used these top 10 lists for an article in their e-newsletter, Enlightened, which goes out to thousands of alumni on a monthly basis. There was also a Spotify playlist created with alumni favourites from over the decades.

Inside the high value pack was four page A4 letter from the lead academic for the project, a tartan branded bookmark, postcard and a business reply envelope.

Business benefits

We achieved a fantastic result for PTAS. The target for income was £30,807.99 (1YR GAD) / £34,592.99 (5YR GAD); actual income was £36,231.25 (1YR GAD) / £39,621.25 (5YR GAD).

The target for donor numbers was 161: we achieved 220 donors.

The ROI target (not including the staff cost of managing the project) was set at 1.57:1. The project returned an ROI of 1.63:1.

Eight mid-level single gifts were received from this mailing (single gift >=£500). One of these was a £12,500 gift from a non-donor.

The campaign won the Best Individual Giving Campaign 2019 award from The Institute of Fundraising Scotland.

Alex McCue, Development Coordinator for Supporter Engagement said –

“I think we will definitely include more lift devices that encourage alumni/donors to engage with us. We don’t do this very often, but as we are really focusing on making our appeals more integrated over social media, and email this year it will be something we do more often.

I think using the University’s tartan on the outer worked really well and we had some lovely feedback on this and the bookmark, which was featured in the high value pack.”

Services used

Personalisation

We can help you create personalised messages to show your audience you understand their needs. This can help to build relationships and create better experiences.

Direct marketing

Whether it be digital or secure printing services, we know the importance of sending your message to the right audience to get the best results.

Fundraising and regular giving communications

Award-winning, fundraising and individual giving campaigns using a variety of channels that generate great results for your organisation.

Online print fulfilment

Managing your print, storage and distribution of journals, magazines, prospectuses and reports. Whatever you need, wherever you need it and whenever you need it.

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We always thoroughly enjoy working with the team at Latcham. They are highly professional, trustworthy and their client care is excellent, far better than any other mail house I have worked with.

Alex McCue, The University of Edinburgh

Latcham has made working on a complex mailing, simple and enjoyable. Excellent client care and support...we’re very happy with the end results and would highly recommend them!

Sophia Nelson, University of Oxford

I am really impressed with their attention to detail, swift turnaround times and flexibility.

Louise Potter, Sedgemoor District Council

Latcham built a system that automates our requests for CPD records, sends reminders to those that haven’t submitted a record and collects records so that reviewers can see them all in one place.

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Latcham’s purpose-built factory provided me with the confidence they can deliver my documents on time and to the correct specifications.

Louise Potter, Sedgemoor District Council

We have maintained a longstanding relationship with Latcham as they have proved consistently reliable in supporting our critical communications.

Neil Cahill, Cadent Gas

They are happy to answer questions at any stage, give expert advice and they always go above and beyond with their customers.

Alex McCue, The University of Edinburgh

We were looking for a company that would enable us to dramatically improve the way in which we produce and print critical portfolio communications and since 2015, the Latcham team has enabled us to achieve this.

Matt Peel, Rowan Dartington

Latcham have been amazing since day one. Great communication... and all technical issues and initial set up [of hybrid mail] were resolved very quickly (even getting a call back from Jack the tech guy on a Sunday afternoon!).

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Latcham’s ability to mobilise quickly in response to tight deadlines is both impressive and reassuring.