The Challenge: A First-Ever Founders Day Appeal

Marking a 250th anniversary with a first Founders Day appeal meant honoring a long history while keeping a fun, celebratory feeling. As one of several campaigns run throughout the year, it also had to differentiate itself in a meaningful way from the rest of the calendar.

Newark Academy celebrated its 250th anniversary by launching its first Founders Day appeal, one of several fundraising campaigns the school runs throughout the year.

The Solution: A Segmented, Multi-Channel Appeal

Trillion designed a short-folded card that evoked tradition while the layout and photos kept it feeling modern. Copy was personalized for seven audience segments, and the card included a remittance envelope and a QR code for digital donations, with coordinating artwork prepared for an accompanying series of timed email blasts.

Results

The Founders Day Appeal raised $318,383 for the school’s annual fund, with an average gift of $1,000. Of the donors, 9% were first-time donors and 7% were SYBUNTs, and because it was the school’s first Founders Day, the campaign also raised awareness of its history that future campaigns can draw on.