The word “innovation” is tossed around so much these days that, you’d probably agree, it has lost any real meaning. At Stephen Thomas Ltd, we say it because we can prove it. From Day One. Indeed, our founder Steve Thomas introduced direct mail fundraising to Canada by developing the first ever direct mail program for Oxfam Canada back in the 1970s.

That tradition of innovation and success was just the beginning. It’s now the foundation for everything we do today to address specific challenges facing our sector and your organization whether you’re in Canada, the United States or on the other side of the world. Here are just some examples:

1.
Finding qualified leads and converting them into monthly donors can be a headscratcher for many charities and non-profits. ST recently helped a small local charity who provides services for the homeless find more “Monthlies” (or as our friends south of the border call them, “Sustainers”) through an integrated social media campaign. Of course, you don’t keep large organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society and World Vision (to name just two) happy unless you’re looking for innovative ways to improve their programs every day.
2.
Innovation can be small like recommending an historically successful premium be reduced in size by a ¼” in diameter to save the client thousands of dollars. Or they can be big innovations like recommending and then developing a multi-media campaign for an international development organization that: A) Paid for itself in the first 4 weeks it was live, B) Attracted unprecedented earned media and C) Raised more money without cannibalizing from the client’s regular program (which ST also built from scratch).
3.
ST was among the first to deliver analytics in the form of a File Audit with insightful commentary. Clients rely on our analytics to help them plan for the future. We measure what matters. Our analytics include recommendations inspired by data insights and support our clients to raise more money.
4.
Stephen Thomas Ltd was at the forefront of the digital revolution, too, uncovering new ways to use it as a fundraising tool. In fact, we’re still out front with digital campaigns that actually work, raising real money for our clients.
5.
ST hosts an annual digital fundraising conference for non-profit digital marketers and fundraisers. New ideas are brought out into the open by both provocative international speakers and our own renowned experts who challenge and inspire our audiences every year. We call it Digital Leap and we just celebrated our 10th year.
6.
When we meet prospective clients and talk about the power of their brand and how bringing it to life in fundraising direct marketing channels can make a huge difference to their acquisition and retention efforts, we see light bulbs go on over their heads. That’s why we’re so proud and excited about our Brand Strategy capability. That’s the game-changing work we’re doing around donor and brand insights to help charities differentiate themselves, emotionally connect more donors to their cause, and raise more money.
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We're passionate
about helping
charities raise
more money.

Tel: 416 690 8801
184 Front Street East, Suite 501
Toronto, ON M5A 4N3
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