The INS Group

Is your nonprofit's direct mail strategy collecting dust? It might be time to bring it back.

New research from Giving USA Foundation reveals that 1 in 4 donors plan to give less this year, largely driven by economic uncertainty rather than actual financial hardship. But here's the good news: direct mail is quietly making a comeback, and it's Gen Z leading the charge.

93% of Gen Z donors say they respond to direct mail. And 80% of them want to receive it monthly. At the same time, most of them still give online after receiving that piece of mail, so the two channels work hand in hand.

The research also highlights a major missed opportunity: 75% of donors have no idea the new universal charitable deduction exists, and once informed, 1 in 3 non-donors said they'd consider giving.

At The INS Group, we help nonprofits turn insights like these into action.

Read the full Candid breakdown here: https://candid.org/blogs/nonprofit-direct-mail-donor-engagement/

Why 1 in 4 donors plan to give less and how direct mail might help Candid insights | Direct mail is back—and Gen Z donors are leading the charge. New research reveals how nonprofits can use direct mail and donor insights to maintain giving in an uncertain economy.

When a nonprofit faces financial or operational hurdles, is grant funding alone enough to ensure long-term survival? While capital is vital, the most resilient organizations find that sustainable growth happens when funding is paired with strategic mentorship.

Investing simultaneously in infrastructure, people, and systems allows organizations to move from immediate distress to long-term community impact. By bringing together leadership, board members, funders, and mentors, nonprofits can pinpoint root challenges, build clear growth plans, and create lasting stability.

Check out this blog from Candid to discover how a collaborative approach to capacity building can transform your organization's future.

https://candid.org/blogs/nonprofit-capacity-building-funding-mentorship/

Combining funding and mentorship for nonprofit capacity building Candid insights | Nonprofit capacity building works best when funding comes with mentorship. See how one credit union rebuilt operations, governance, and long-term sustainability with both.

What an incredible summit! Our President, Ruth Peebles, had the honor of facilitating "The ABCs of Grant Writing" with the North Carolina Community Health Workers Association (NCCHWA) in Cherokee, NC.

For several years, The INS Group has been proud to partner with North Carolina Community Health Worker Association on resource development and sustainability strategy; work that's rooted in supporting CHW professionals who show up every day for the communities they serve. CHWs bring lived experience and deep, trusted relationships to their work, and that's exactly what makes them so effective in reaching underserved and rural communities. Helping build the funding strategies that sustain that impact is at the core of what we do.

One of the most powerful moments of the summit was the Western North Carolina CBO Showcase, where community-based organizations shared the incredible work they are doing, including the dedicated CHWs who stepped up for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene and continue to support rebuilding efforts across the region.

Thank you to NCCHWA for the continued partnership, and to every participant who brought their questions, experience, and commitment into the room. This is what community looks like.