PROJECT OVERVIEW

Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation (UCU Foundation), based in Chicago, supports Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv, Ukraine. The foundation came to Trillion to clarify the organization’s purpose with a new name, refocused messaging, and new brand identity.

Trillion was also tasked with executing a segmented marketing strategy to raise brand awareness and engage new supporters. The marketing strategy centered upon targeted and personalized communications to improve current and prospective donor relationships. Trillion helped develop key messages that focused on student impact and success stories. We leveraged personalized direct mail, new donor communications, and segmented email campaigns. We added new digital components to all campaigns and social media advertising to help raise awareness of the university’s impact in new ways.

Shortly after launching the UCU Foundation rebrand, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine upended the lives of all Ukrainians, including those at the University. The university quickly transitioned to become a hub of humanitarian relief and support in Lviv. Trillion assisted UCU Foundation through this difficult time by completely pivoting its messaging towards supporting Ukrainian humanitarian relief efforts while still focusing messages on how students were both learning, coping, and supporting the war effort. In the first 100 days of war, UCU Foundation raised approximately $2MM for UCU humanitarian relief efforts.

Since Trillion’s involvement, UCU Foundation has reported increases in small- to mid-level donations, increases in the number of donations, as well as a flood of first time donors who supported humanitarian relief efforts. Trillion helped UCU Foundation’s end-of-year appeal campaign to yield a 118% increase in revenue and 59% increase in average gift size compared to the previous year.UCU Foundation’s Facebook and Instagram followership has greatly increased with engaged supporters, thus raising the profile and awareness of the foundation in America. UCU Foundation had its strongest fundraising year in its history, raising over $11MM to support various academic, humanitarian, capital and endowment programs at the University.

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