Global nonprofit 5x's their ad spend

For many of us, it’s hard to imagine the struggles faced by people in extreme poverty. In a world where suffering is immense and resources are scarce, Franciscan Missions shines as a beacon of hope.

The Company: Franciscan Missions

Industry: Non-profit (religious organization)

Location: Waterford, WI

Marketers: Jim Kott, Digital Communications Coordinator; Brother Andrew Brophy, OFM, Executive Director

Franciscan Missions is a Catholic nonprofit that supports the poor and vulnerable, bringing relief to some of the darkest corners of the globe. Funds support food needs, medical clinics, sustainable water projects, housing projects, education, formation of Franciscan missionaries, and humanitarian relief in Ukraine, India, Syria, Haiti, and beyond.

For years, USDP has been working closely with Jim Kott to modernize their outreach. With a blend email campaigns, digital ads, and a revamped website, both teams have collaborated to tell the incredible stories of the Franciscan friars and the people they serve.

The Challenge: Help more people

The year 2024 had already seen an increase in donations over 2023, and Jim wanted to bring even more people into their mission by the end of the year. But how do you rise above the endless swirl of requests filling inboxes and feeds at that time of year? How do you cut through the chaos to reach the hearts of those who care most about the forgotten and oppressed?

The Strategy: Finish strong

To fuel an increase in fundraising, we ramped up marketing efforts beginning in November 2024, leaning into the hope of generosity the season often brings.

The Tactics: Share the good news

We sent more emails than the previous year, and increased ad spend on search, programmatic display ads, and social media ads. Together, we created campaigns that not only highlighted urgent needs but also celebrated the transformative power of giving.

• Social media and Google ads shone a light on crises like the ongoing war in Ukraine.
• Email campaigns invited donors to act on immediate needs, updated them on the incredible stories enabled by their giving, and encouraged them to become recurring donors.
• Additional stories added to the website showed the resilience and gratitude of those who’ve received help.

The Results: Incredible returns

This increase in much needed funds enables Franciscan Missions to do even more for those in need, and proves that a thoughtful digital strategy can fuel even greater generosity.

We are thrilled to see the joint work of Franciscan Missions and USDP equip friars with resources to change lives around the world.