"I Couldn’t Help But Open It" – Improve the Design of Your Fundraising Envelope with a Handwritten Font
“In my stack of mail at home there was a letter from the local hospital that had a hand-written address and a personal signature in the upper left corner. No way was it a bill. What was it? I couldn’t help but open it.”
This is the feedback I received from the recipient of one of our recent client appeal letter mailings which used a live signature and handwriting font on the envelope. At first glance it didn’t look like a bulk mail letter. And that’s why it was opened.
What do we mean by live signature? Our design team can take a high-resolution scan of your appeal letter signer’s actual signature, digitize it, and add it to your letter and outer envelope. Some clients even add the signer’s title under the logo. This way it’s especially clear that the letter isn’t a bill or junk mail. It is an important letter from an important person writing to you!
Handwriting fonts for the addressee and address help to further distinguish your fundraising appeal letter from other types of mail. It is eye-catching and looks much more personal than your typical printed font.
The below examples show what it looks like to use a live signature and a handwriting font.
The first two use a typeface called Cluff HMK. The third uses a typeface called Ernie.
Handwriting Font “Cluff HMK” in Black
Handwriting Font ‘Cluff HMK” in Blue
Handwriting Font “Ernie” in Black
Many of our clients have started using them. And, in a side-by-side test between Cluff HMK in blue and Arial in black in a mailing of 14,301 letters, the handwriting font generated a 12 percent greater response rate.
There is a delicate balance between over-designing your appeal envelope and adding just enough intrigue to get it opened. Handwriting fonts and a live signature is a great way to distinguish your nonprofit appeal letter from junk mail and look personal and important!
For more design examples, including PDF files with examples and curated blog articles, visit our Design Knowledge Base page.
Ready To Stand Out in the Mailbox?
It’s easy to incorporate a handwriting font and live signature on your next fundraising appeal envelope or invitation.
Talk to your Five Maples account manager, or contact Sarah Gnerre, CFRE, VP of Philanthropy, at 1-802-387-3091 or sarahg@fivemaples.com!
