Custom donor gifts sow seeds of support

Nonprofit merchandise helps relationships grow

By Carrie Kramer

Interview Featuring

Jessica Baldwin

Woodhaven

Outreach and data manager

For donation-driven organizations, making and maintaining genuine connections is critical. That’s especially true today, as nonprofit donor retention hovers around 43% opens in new window—meaning organizations keep, on average, fewer than half of their donors year to year. As nonprofits face ongoing donor retention challenges, memorable gestures of appreciation—including custom donor gifts—can help strengthen those essential long-term relationships.

Missouri nonprofit Woodhaven opens in new window supports people with disabil­ities and neurodiverse individuals through a variety of pro­grams, including residential services, education and employ­ment support. When it hosted a launch event for its capital campaign, the team wanted attendees to leave with something memorable: a small gift that represented growth, connec­tion and continued support for Woodhaven’s mission. Jessica Baldwin, outreach and data manager, shared how branded seed packets created a lasting reminder of Woodhaven’s event and the individuals it serves.

Q: What is the mission of Woodhaven?

A:  We change people’s lives by empowering them to find and achieve success on their own terms. It’s not about doing things for people with disabilities and neurodiversi­ties—it’s about giving them the opportuni­ty to do things for themselves while main­taining a safe environment where they can thrive. That includes providing more than 200 individuals with housing, access to ed­ucation and skill-building, community en­gagement and so much more. 

Q: What fundraising strategies make this work possible?

A: Woodhaven has fundraising events, like most nonprofits. For example, we host an annual golf tournament that has run for 20 years and has been very successful. We also organize a Zombie Pub Crawl held around Halloween, and that’s been around for eight years or so.

What we call our Signature Event is held in the spring. That’s when we announced our capital campaign, called “Empowering Independence, Transforming Lives.” The three-year, $10.4 million campaign is now underway.

Q: How did promotional products help make that event more meaningful?

A: When we launched the campaign, we wanted to find a way for potential donors to think about the individuals we’re sup­porting—because we want them to invest in Woodhaven. The goal was to really paint a picture of what their donations can do, so we shared stories of families who say Woodhaven has completely changed their lives. There are individuals who now have their own apartments, and they’re so proud of that. What resonates with donors is hearing these stories and seeing and think­ing about how Woodhaven impacts the community.

A message that continues to grow

The idea was to try to help them think about what they wanted for these individ­uals—the wish they had for them. At the Signature Event, we gave attendees candles with the seed packets attached. The seed packets were imprinted with “Plant a wish for Woodhaven.” We wanted them to think on that while they plant their wildflowers.

Q: Why did you choose wildflower seeds?

A: The event was held in the spring, and we’re focused on growth. This campaign is about growing, renewal and new beginnings for the individuals we serve. I chose wildflowers because I liked the fact that you don’t really know what you’re going to get. You can plant them anywhere and they’re going to look nice. They’re also so convenient. You literally just stick the piece of seed paper in a little bit of soil, cover it, water it a little and they’ll grow.

Q: Why was it important to have your logo and message on the custom seed packets?

A: We wanted them to think about Woodhaven when they were planting their flowers and every time they water them. We hope they continue to think about the individuals they’re supporting through their generosity. I also just think it’s very important to keep Woodhaven in the forefront of people’s minds.

Q: Was the event a success?

A: Yes, it went really well. We just launched the campaign and have secured $1.3 Million already. Everyone received their gift on the way out. I believe everyone left with a pos­itive feeling in their heart and will continue to think of our organization and the growth they are helping us to achieve.

NOTE: 4imprint partnered with Woodhaven and sponsored the custom donor gifts mentioned in this story. 

All marks are the property of 4imprint or their respective owners.

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