Brochures need to work hard these days, never has this been truer than with charity brochure design.
Getting the most out of your budget isn’t so much a desire as a business prerequisite when it comes to designing brochures for charities and NFPs. The surge in the cost of living has generated a challenging combination of factors for charities, akin to a ‘perfect storm’. Charities are grappling with notably higher expenses, a sharp increase in demand from those they serve, and a threat to the ability of many individuals to donate. With budgets tightening and personal concerns having to take precedence, charitable giving understandably has taken a back seat for many people.
There are currently over 168,000 registered charities in the UK, and more than two-thirds of British people say that they give to charity at least once a year. The full size of the sector is actually unknown since only not-for-profits with a gross annual income of £5,000 or more have to register.
Charity brochures are versatile tools that help charities communicate their mission, attract supporters, raise funds, and create a positive and lasting impression in their efforts to make a positive impact on their chosen cause. The most effective charity newsletters are well-designed, engaging, and provide valuable content that resonates with the target audience, ultimately strengthening the relationship between the charity and its supporters.
Over the last 25 years, Toast has worked with a whole range of charities, helping them to engage, advise, recruit or educate on subjects ranging from third-world hunger to living with cancer. In completing these projects we have created everything from brochures and leaflets through to exhibitions and campaigns, very often all of the above for the same charity. We’re proud of the longstanding relationships that we’ve formed with charities all over the UK and worldwide, supporting them in the invaluable work that they do.
All too often, we are asked to redesign or reinvigorate an existing newsletter or campaign, created by someone else, as it may not have achieved its original goals or delivered the results it was meant to.
We work with our clients to identify possible improvements and create new designs and layouts whilst still maintaining brand guidelines and standards.
A good example of this is the charity brochure design we created for Breakthrough Breast Cancer: The Advocate.
The Advocate newsletter is a long-standing newsletter that is aimed at supporters of Breakthrough Breast Cancer to thank them for the good work they do, encourage them to do more and engage with other people to increase overall support.
We worked with them to redevelop the look and feel, layout and structure to make it easier to navigate and easier to read.
The effect is a brighter, more engaging newsletter that works harder and is more effective at generating support.
Over the years, many of our charity brochure design clients have turned to us to help them achieve more with shrinking marketing budgets, and we have helped by suggesting various options, one of the most popular being the adoption of electronic brochures.
By developing and designing a brochure for electronic usage, print costs are reduced while the end product is interactive and can replace larger print runs by being made available online.
How a charity brochure could help you
At Toast, we understand that charities are under pressure to make the most of every penny. Every penny from donors is valuable, and we’d like to help you get a return on your investment with us. If you’re investing in a charity brochure, we know that it needs to yield tangible results. It isn’t a decision that you’ve undertaken lightly, so here are some ways that a new charity brochure could benefit you.
- Information dissemination: Brochures serve as a concise and visually appealing way to convey important information about your charity’s mission, goals, and the impact of your work. This information helps potential donors, volunteers, and supporters better understand the organisation’s cause and activities.
- Transparency: Charity brochures can enhance transparency by sharing financial reports, success stories, and details about how donations are being utilised.
- Awareness and education: Brochures can raise awareness about social or environmental issues that your charity is addressing. They can educate the public about the significance of these issues and why they require support and action.
- Fundraising: As you know, charities rely on donations to fund their operations. Brochures can include details about how donations are used, making it easier for potential donors to understand how their contributions will make a difference and encourage them to give generously.
- Volunteer recruitment: Many charities depend on volunteers to carry out their work. Brochures can outline volunteer opportunities and the benefits of getting involved, encouraging people to donate their time and skills to a worthy cause.
- Credibility and trust: Well-designed brochures can enhance your charity’s credibility and professionalism. When presented at events or distributed in your community, they can help establish trust with the public.
- Visibility and outreach: Brochures are a tangible and portable marketing tool that can be distributed at events, through mailings, or in public places. They help charities reach a wider audience and engage with potential supporters.
- Donor retention: Regularly sending out brochures can update donors on the charity’s achievements, ongoing projects, and the impact of their contributions, which can help retain their support.
- Advocacy and policy initiatives: Brochures can be used to inform the public and policymakers about policy changes and advocacy efforts, rallying support and creating momentum for change.
- Event promotion: If your charity hosts fundraising events, workshops, or awareness campaigns, brochures can be used to promote these activities and provide attendees with essential information about upcoming events.
If you have a job in mind then you could call Mark today on 01295 26 66 44 and discuss how Toast can help you achieve more from your design.
