Pursuant helps CitySquare

Grow Year-End Results

Pursuant partnered with CitySquare and used strategic online communication to drive a large increase in online donations

Client Profile
CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries) is a human and community development organization that focuses on economic and social justice in inner city Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and the 19-county North Texas region. CitySquare fights the root causes of poverty by partnering with those in need. Working together as a community, they feed the hungry, heal the sick, house the homeless, and renew hope in the heart of Dallas and beyond.

“Pursuant enabled CitySquare to greatly expand the reach of our message through their creative and innovative electronic campaign solutions. Not only have they enabled us to reach new donors and community partners, but they’ve helped us deepen our connection with those we already have.”

- Jenny Fogel, manager of communications

Challenge
CitySquare wanted to execute a strong year-end fundraising campaign while also communicating the vision behind the organization’s rebranding, which launched in October 2010. During the prime, end-of-year giving season, the organization wanted to gain new supporters and reassure existing donors that while their name change indicated a growing scope of services, their mission and vision remained as solid and committed as ever.

Solution
Pursuant strategized with CitySquare to create an effective five-part email series to reach their donor base, complemented by a direct mail appeal. The emails linked to professionally produced videos that told moving stories of people who had been deeply impacted by CitySquare’s work, including a recipient of their services, a volunteer, and an employee, as well as a message from CitySquare’s CEO Larry James. These emails and the videos, which were housed on specially designed web pages, linked to an online donation system to facilitate direct donor response.

Results
The stories and videos engaged CitySquare’s donors and prospects ad effectively communicated the value of investing in their work. As a result, CitySquare’s 2010 online donations were more than 55 percent higher than in 2009.

How can we help you plan and execute a successful year-end campaign? Tell us through our contact form.