When it comes to nonprofit organizations, every cent matters, and you definitely want to stretch your funds as far as you can. That’s why when it comes to mailing campaigns, it’s important to know how much your organization can save with nonprofit postage rates.
On average, your organization can achieve discounts of up to 70 percent when mailing at a nonprofit rate. That might not make a huge difference if you’re only mailing a handful of pieces, but what if you’re investing in a fundraising appeal campaign of 20,000 pieces? Those postage savings add up pretty quickly.
When considering the savings you can achieve with a nonprofit postage rate, there are a few factors to take into consideration.
Know the Difference: Everyone knows standard postage is less expensive than first class, but nonprofit postage is in a class by itself. Consider these examples: first class postage for a letter mailing might run approximately 43 cents per piece. However, nonprofit postage for a similar letter might only be in the area of 19 cents per piece. It’s easy to see how quickly your savings can add up for nonprofit mailings.
Who’s Eligible?: Organizations that are typically eligible for nonprofit postage rates include agricultural, educational, fraternal, labor, philanthropic, religious, scientific, and those serving veterans. Some political committees are eligible. Certain organizations such as chambers of commerce and social and hobby clubs are usually not eligible, and individuals do not qualify.
Have the Right Permit: We sometimes get calls from nonprofit organizations that assume since they have their 501(c)3 certification from the IRS that they can mail at a nonprofit rate. However, the two are different, and a nonprofit postage permit still needs to be obtained from the U.S. Postal Service.
There are several steps to receiving approval for nonprofit postage:
- Fill out the Postal Service application form
- Provide required documentation that includes your IRS letter of exemption and other evidence of your nonprofit status
- Submit your application, for which approval can take approximately two weeks.
Work with an Expert: A trusted mailing expert who works closely with the Postal Service can help you navigate the application and certification process, ensuring it’s streamlined and doesn’t hold up your mailing or add additional costs. For example, if an organization is in the midst of having its nonprofit postage certification approved, we can process their mailing using our postal permit, which means the organization does not incur additional expenses while waiting for certification.
Additionally, an experienced mailing provider can process your mailing list and ensure your mailing achieves the lowest possible postage rates, so you save as much as possible.
Every dollar counts for nonprofit organizations, so when it’s time to mail, trust an expert to help you achieve the best-possible postage rates.
Want to ensure you’re saving as much as possible on nonprofit postage? Click here and contact Mellady Direct Marketing today.
