UC San Diego – COVID-19 Response Fund Impact Report

Posted on 09/21/2021

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Title COVID-19 Response Fund Impact Report
Institution UC San Diego
Submitted by: Allison Schneider, Deputy Director, Advancement Operations and Campaign
Jason Horger, Director of Advancement and Campaign Communications
What is it? COVID-19 Response Fund Impact Report
When did it take place?  2020
Who was the audience?  The report was initially shared via email with donors who made gifts to the university’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund or to several COVID-related student support and success initiatives between March 7 and July 31. It was also sent with a personally addressed email message from the chancellor to major gift donors who were mentioned by name in the piece. However, because of its digital format, the entire UC San Diego community can now access the report.
What was the goal? To communicate the impact of donors’ generosity, the digital impact report showed the wide range of efforts UC San Diego was pursuing in response to COVID-19, one that could be shared easily via email, social media, WeChat (for Chinese donors), or text with donors who were scattered across the globe.
What makes it unique? The team received a number of positive comments from donors who were impressed by the campus’s response to COVID-19. The piece also sparked significant interest in the university’s Return to Learn Program and for their local collaboration with the San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID-19 Health (SEARCH) alliance.
Did anything surprise you?  Since this report exists only in a digital format, it uses platforms and technology they already utilize — and because it is sourced, written, and designed by existing staff — there were no additional costs to produce it.
What was the outcome? Emails sharing the COVID-19 Digital Impact Report had an open rate of 52.4% and an overall click rate of 13.3%.
How can you learn more? Click on the title links below to watch these on-demand webinars:

Creating Powerful Gift Impact Reports

Stewarding Scholarship Donors

Strengthening Donor Recognition

 


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