I have only been with Whitewater for a short time, but I have already been fortunate enough to work on a new and exciting project with one of our clients, the Brooke, a charity which helps working horses and donkeys in the world’s poorest countries.

Whitewater has helped Brooke launch a new initiative in the way of a cold mail sponsorship pack, where potential supporters will be given the opportunity to become a Founder Sponsor of a mobile vet team, situated in Baghpat India.

We see this as an innovative way of giving, as supporters will not only be giving to a charity, but will also be contributing towards a specific project which has a far more engaging and tangible feel to it. Once someone becomes a Founder Sponsor, they will be sent a fulfilment pack containing a thank you letter, information on the Baghpat team, a set of postcards and a certificate congratulating them on becoming a sponsor of their own mobile team.

Supporters will receive regular updates as well as new information about the project from Brooke, and there will also be a special section of the Brooke’s website just for sponsors. This will enable them to watch videos of the Baghpat team in action and read updates written by the team members. These extras are a way of involving and rewarding supporters for helping in such a worthwhile cause

The benefits of this feedback and involvement are that through regular interaction, supporters will grow with the programme and get the satisfaction of contributing to something specific and measurable It has been proven time and time again that supporters far prefer giving to an earmarked cause than to a generic pool of funds, and this is very evident in the success of the MS society’s recent September mailing campaign which was earmarked to raise money for a new MRI scanner.

The whole aim of Brooke’s new Febraury, cold pack is to focus on supporting a long term infrastructure, which has the ability to prosper through continuous and increasing support. Sponsoring a mobile team not only helps horses and donkeys in distress, but also concentrates on training their owners, from which both communities and animals will benefit.

Animals never complain about their suffering, they just wait patiently for something better to come along. So here’s to a different way of supporting a cause that means something to you where you see first hand how your contribution is making a huge difference.

Michael-John Van Vuuren