So the Christmas season has descended upon us. For a lot of charities, it's a great opportunity to ask supporters for that extra bit of money to help fund really worthwhile causes, especially during a time when traditionally we think about those less fortunate than ourselves.

But for me, there's nothing more heartfelt than a simple 'thank you' from an organisation that recognises the support that we've given (no matter how big or small). At Whitewater we know that a simple 'thank you' can go along way in making donors feel appreciated and inspired. Which ultimately makes them give more even if they're not being asked.

That's why we were really pleased when our WaterAid clients, Erin and Shabby took on board the idea behind our suggestion for their Christmas mailing. Instead of leading on a cash-ask, we mailed their supporters a calendar and an end of year 'thank you' letter telling them how their money has been spent through the year. (Obviously if they wanted to donate, we provided them with the opportunity to do so as well!)

So far the results have been good. One donor wrote to say she thought that during these credit crunch times when charities are looking to cut back, receiving mailings is still useful - 'they don't have to be glossy but keeping in touch does more than keep the money flowing... it's great to feel appreciated.'

It's feedback like that from donors which make this job worthwhile.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 01:19 PM | Permalink

If you want to show your supporters that you care about the world we share, here's some good news: Whitewater has gained FSC and PEFC accreditation.

This means, when you buy print through Whitewater, beside your charity's message, all your printed communications can bear either the Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification logos - telling donors that you support sustainable forestry initiatives.

To get accredited by both these organisations, Whitewater has invested heavily in staff training, accountable stock control systems and production workflow processes - probably more than you want to know, but it guarantees that the materials we support are certified at every step.

We hope you'll agree, it's a step in the right direction to making a world of difference.

Heather Collins

Posted by Whitewater Team at 03:20 PM | Permalink

The RSPCA has been running DRTV ads for ten years now. The ads are as emotive as you might expect, telling stories of animals abused and neglected, before being rescued by RSPCA Inspectors.

Some ads have worked better than others, but there's never been a real breakthrough in results. So our client Louise was eager to ‘break the mould', and willing to take a risk or two.

I'd always wondered if the ads we had made for RSPCA were a little too 'contrived'. For maximum emotional impact you had to construct scenes that would never realistically be caught on camera. Actors and animal models were frequently used.

So we took a risk: the Biggest Animal Rescue DRTV ad is fronted by the RSPCA’s Chief Officer Inspectorate, Tim Wass, intercut with sequences of real RSPCA rescue animals waiting for new loving homes. Phone, SMS and online response options were offered, as well as a campaign specific microsite where Tim can be seen interviewed at more length about the appeal.

I do admit to being a bit concerned. The ad didn't pull my heartstrings as much as what had gone before; but what it did have was urgency, tangibility and reality.

I needn't have worried. The results have blown previous ads out of the water. Get real Couldry!

Nick Couldry

Posted by Whitewater Team at 09:49 AM | Permalink