ACRES Improves Email Reach and Response with Network for Good

The ACRES Project (ACRES) in State College, PA strives to increase autism awareness and acceptance throughout their community. Founded in 2016, ACRES is a relatively “young” nonprofit organization. They started growing their base of support through in-person and digital outreach and managed their donor database using Bloomerang. Then came an incredible opportunity, a grant awarded by the Centre Foundation for ACRES Project to be enrolled into Network for Good’s Jumpstart Capacity Building Program. Jumpstart is a year-long capacity building program that pairs nonprofits with a personal fundraising coach and the integrated technology needed to engage their communities, diversify revenue, and sustain their programs.

Over the next several months, the ACRES staff began using Network for Good’s all-in-one fundraising system. The result? Mary Krupa, ACRES’ Digital Marketing Specialist, succinctly explained that “Network for Good just feels more complete.” 

Here are the three aspects of Network for Good’s software that have helped this growing nonprofit standout:  

All-in-One System Supports Nonprofit Growth  

Before Network for Good, Mary said it would take “hours” to develop a donation page for the ACRES’ website. With Network for Good, it took her around five minutes. “Doing a quick campaign page (in Network for Good) looks better than anything we’ve ever had before,” Mary said. “Plus, it all goes right into our database, which is really helpful.”   

As Mary says, Network for Good’s ability to have data, donation webpages, and email capabilities “all in one spot” is what made the system stand apart from other fundraising software programs. “We’re growing pretty quickly, we have more constituents and data to manage and it’s good to have an all-encompassing system…that produces good-looking results quickly too.”  

Now, ACRES is expanding into video messaging and text-to-give opportunities that are also built into the Network for Good’s system.  

Personalized Support Helps Connect the Dots   

While Mary appreciated the on-demand support webinars Bloomerang offered, Network for Good’s Personal Fundraising Coaching made a difference when the organization needed support in real time. “If we had specific questions, it was easier to reach out during Network for Good’s office hours than listen to a webinar,” Mary said. 

ACRES’ Network for Good coach didn’t just troubleshoot or provide technical support. She offered ideas and inspiration uniquely suited to their organization’s needs, “Our coach even wrote some templates for us and shared some good fundraising ideas I didn’t think of,” Mary explains.  

Easy and Engaging Email Marketing  

From time-saving templates to “drag and drop” functionality, the ACRES team found Network for Good’s email capabilities allowed them to send messages that not only reached, but also resonated with, their donors. According to Mary, Network for Good’s email system “does as much stuff for you as it can, which I really like.” That includes sharing examples from other organizations in the email gallery that her team could use as inspiration for their own appeals. As more of ACRES’ messages are landing in people’s inboxes, the organization’s seen an increase in email open rates, which means more exposure to the impact of their supporters’ donations.  

Is your organization ready for the next phase of fundraising? Contact us for a free demo! 

Published: May 20, 2022