Situation / Challenge

Merkle Response Management Group (RMG) provides donation processing, fulfillment, and donor care services to associations and advocacy groups that raise funds through direct mail. Merkle RMG processes nonprofits’ incoming mail, makes deposits, captures data and responds to its clients’ donors, constituents, and customers — a key role in the membership and donor lifecycle.

Approach

Sage worked with Merkle RMG to build an integrated marketing program from the ground up, with the aim of driving qualified leads and motivating prospects to visit the Merkle RMG facility. This has encompassed messaging, branding, website development, creation of sales materials, videos, and case studies, development of direct response campaigns, and an active media relations and social media program. 

Our work included a high-touch, high-end direct response program for Merkle RMG’s top 200 client prospects. This award-winning “Grow With Us” campaign involved six mailers and six emails themed around the cultivation of plants and gardens, likening it to the cultivation of lasting donor relationships. This “Grow With Us” campaign earned Sage the MarCom Platinum award for outstanding nonprofit marketing campaigns. The campaign was so distinctive, one of Merkle RMG’s prospects contacted Merkle RMG commenting on the campaign’s “spectacular design and execution”.

Results

Since partnering with Sage, Merkle RMG has enjoyed tremendous growth, with 18 new clients coming onboard in our second year alone. In our third year, Sage designed a new website for Merkle RMG. The site includes a collection of videos that showcase each of the company’s solution areas. This modern, intuitive design offers richer resources and a better user experience.