New River Communications

It's not lost on us that effectively reaching supporters – spreading the word about and seeking support for important nonprofit work – requires paper. Here at New River, we seek to balance that resource consumption by protecting and helping renew our planet’s precious resources. We try to do our part by implementing sustainable business practices, and by advocating for and supporting environmental causes. Through The Nature Conservancy’s Plant A Billion program, for example, New River plants a tree for every direct mail job we produce for clients. Plant a Billion projects in the U.S. and around the world are rejuvenating iconic forests in key locations. The Nature Conservancy is making sure every dollar donated helps to revive healthy forest habitat in two ways: planting tree seedlings in highly degraded areas and by assisting in the natural regeneration of the forest by removing barriers to the forest’s ability to heal itself. https://lnkd.in/epnkbJv #ArborDay #PlantATree #Nonprofits

Direct mail remains a powerful tool for nonprofits to engage with supporters, and we understand that nonprofits whose mission includes protecting mother nature are looking to send campaigns responsibly. So, here are a few strategies to make eco-conscious choices without compromising effectiveness: -Paper Selection: Opt for recycled or sustainably sourced paper for your mailers. By choosing eco-friendly paper options, you can reduce the environmental impact of your campaigns. -Minimalistic Designs: Keep your designs simple and avoid excessive ink usage. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also ensures your message is clear and impactful. -Targeted Mailing Lists: Refine your mailing lists to reach individuals who are genuinely interested in your cause. This targeted approach minimizes unnecessary mailings and conserves resources. -Select Digital Alternatives: Incorporate digital elements into your direct mail campaigns, such as QR codes or personalized URLs, to provide additional information while reducing paper usage. -Eco-Friendly Printing Practices: Partner with printing companies that prioritize sustainability by using energy-efficient equipment and eco-friendly printing processes. By implementing these earth-conscious strategies, nonprofits can continue to leverage the power of direct mail while demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship. If you need help getting started, send us a message so we can work together to make a positive, “greener” impact, one mail piece at a time! #EarthDay #SustainableMail #NonprofitImpact #NonprofitFundraising

⚡️ Transforming Nonprofit Fundraising with Data ⚡️ In the dynamic world of nonprofits, standing out and making a real impact requires innovation. That's where VeraData's co-op comes into play—a transformative co-op leveraging Donor Science to revolutionize how we connect with new donors and unlock our data's full potential. The Perks of Joining Us: 👉 Expertise: Tap into unparalleled audience segmentation knowledge from our seasoned data science team. 👉 Insightful Analytics: Dive deep into donor insights without the risk of over-mailing—engaging highly targeted segments who are eager to support your cause. 👉 Universal Benefit: Regardless of size, all nonprofits find value in our collaborative approach at any growth stage. 👉 Local Donor Discovery: Unlock potential local donors through crowd-sourced data identifying overlapping segments across organizations. Join us as we pave the way toward a future where missions are realized more effectively than ever—where communities thrive thanks to the transformative power of data-driven philanthropy. Let’s create impactful social change together! https://bit.ly/3ICrLKU #Nonprofits #FundraisingInnovation #DonorScience #PhilanthropicImpact

“Happy Tax Day!” (said no one ever). How then to make this dreaded day less onerous and more positive? Here’s a plan: Zoom ahead in your mind, exactly one year into the future to Tax Day 2025. There you are, relaxed and feeling good. Know why? Because you reduced your tax bill for 2024, all the while offering help to the great causes you care about. How? By using one or more of these key strategies or tools: Itemize Deductions: The most straightforward way to get a tax deduction for charitable gifts is to itemize your deductions on your tax return, rather than taking the standard deduction. Charitable contributions are an eligible itemized deduction, allowing you to lower your taxable income. Be sure to keep detailed records of your donations. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): A donor-advised fund allows you to make a charitable contribution, claim the tax deduction upfront, and then recommend grants from the fund to your favorite nonprofits over time. This can be a strategic way to bunch donations in a high-income year to maximize your deduction. Donate Appreciated Assets: Rather than donating cash, consider giving appreciated stocks, bonds, or other securities that you've held for over a year. This allows you to deduct the full fair market value of the asset, while also avoiding the capital gains tax you'd owe if you sold the asset yourself. Qualified Charitable Distributions: If you're age 72 or older, you can make tax-free charitable donations directly from your IRA through a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). These distributions count towards your required minimum distribution but aren't included in your adjusted gross income. Corporate Matching: Many employers offer charitable gift matching programs, effectively doubling the impact of your donation. Be sure to check if your company has such a program and take advantage of it. So think about it, talk to your tax adviser, and see what options are right for you. Start today and you’ll feel SO much better come April 15, 2025. Or if you want, lament today and start tomorrow. We understand. #TaxDay #GiveBack #NonprofitFundraising #DirectmailMarketing

Client Spotlight: Honoring World Health Day Today, we're proud to shine a spotlight on one of our valued clients, Craig Hospital Foundation! Craig Hospital stands as a beacon of hope and healing, renowned globally for its unwavering commitment to neurorehabilitation and groundbreaking research. Specializing exclusively in spinal cord injury and brain injury rehabilitation, Craig Hospital is at the forefront of transforming lives and restoring independence for individuals facing these challenges.  We’re grateful for the work of the Craig Foundation and for our chance to advance it through our donor-focused strategic marketing initiatives. We view every direct response campaign as an opportunity not just to raise needed funds, but to educate donors and remind them why and how their generosity powers the good work happening at Craig. As we mark World Health Day, we celebrate the collective impact of amazing nonprofits like Craig Hospital that are giving hope back to individual patients and doing their part to change the world.  #WorldHealthDay #CraigHospital #NonprofitFundraising

Too often we take access to safe, clean drinking water for granted. But in many parts of the world – even in some places in our country – communities struggle daily to secure water that is free of disease and contaminants. Did you know that 2.2 billion people still live without access to safe drinking water?! Consider the simple act of pouring a glass of water from your kitchen faucet. That water has undergone rigorous treatment processes to remove impurities, ensuring that it meets stringent safety standards. We benefit from sophisticated infrastructure and technologies that deliver clean water to our homes. The convenience and reliability of our water supply are a gift to be cherished and celebrated. Moreover, accessibility to safe water extends beyond our homes. Think about public spaces like parks, restaurants, airports, libraries, and hospitals—all making safe water available at no cost to quench our thirst. This World Water Day, celebrated March 22 every year, take a moment to be thankful for this precious resource. Consider making a donation to a nonprofit like charity: water, working to bring safe water to all. This year’s theme is Water for Peace, and we invite you to get involved and learn more about the ways you can help, visit: https://lnkd.in/dmPq_Uq.

“Here's a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble But when you worry, you make it double Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now…” These famous words sung by Bobby McFerrin in the 1988 song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” won a Grammy for Song of the Year. It was also the first a cappella song to reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Today, on International Day of Happiness, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, hear McFerrin’s song playing:  https://lnkd.in/e_g4nc5t, or in your head and let that remind you to – you guessed it – be happy. In a world with no shortage of difficulties and sadness, sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses, as they say, look away from the hardship and struggle and focus on all the good. This is especially recommended for the hardworking and dedicated folks who work in nonprofits and dedicate themselves to making the world a better place. Don’t lose hope and keep smiling. From all of us at New River, we wish you a joyful International Day of Happiness! #BeHappy #NonprofitFundraising #DirectMailMarketing

If you work in the nonprofit sector, you likely share our dream to change the world for good. But beyond nice words and good intentions, what is the measurable goal toward that end? CEO Michael Peterman of our partner company VeraData The Donor Science Company has an audacious vision:  “Philanthropy's been sitting just below 3% of GDP for decades, but with the promise of donor science, we can expand audiences. We can connect with the next generation of donors ahead of the curve. We can accelerate the economic relationships between charities and the donors, migrating donors up that giving pyramid -- people that give twice a year at $50, monthly givers, mid-level givers, major gifts, and planned giving. It’s moving people up the pyramid, identifying capacity and propensity far in advance and faster than we've ever been able to do before. We’re learning how to communicate with them and ultimately increasing charitable giving as a percent of GDP… We’d like to think that we can get to 4% or 5%. And if we achieve that, I'm not exaggerating here, it could literally save the world. Even if we come up short, we end up helping millions more than we otherwise could have served. What better legacy to leave behind? What better could we hope to achieve than something like that?”   Intrigued? Listen to more of Michael’s conversation with AwareNow Media https://lnkd.in/e56xtNtG. Interested in exploring how your nonprofit might be part of this daring dream? Reach out to one of our direct response experts now and let’s save the world together!

Happy National Proofreading Day – Let’s honor those with eagle eyes and a commitment to clean copy. Lest you think great proofers aren’t deserving of our appreciation, consider how easily a simple, well-meaning sentence can go off the rails…    "Let's eat, grandma!" vs. "Let's eat grandma!" – A careful proofing can prevent an innocent family meal from devolving into a cannibalistic feeding frenzy. "Join us for a night of fun and pubic speaking!" – Whoops.  "We’re working hard to rectify the situation. Please bare with us." – Wondering here what kind of problem could be made better by an act of disrobing?   Proofreading isn't just about catching errors; it's about preventing embarrassment and miscommunication. In the world of direct response communications – and beyond – punctuation, spelling, word choice, and language use matters, so keep proofing!   #NonprofitFundraising #DirectMailMarketing #Proofread #Philanthropy