Micro Grants for Direct Mail Innovation

The Micro Grants for Direct Mail Innovation provides project-based grants for the experimentation and implementation of new direct-mail marketing strategies. Grants will be awarded in amounts no greater than $4,000 to organizations that are current participants in 2015 Audience Analytics program and who have an innovative idea on their direct marketing strategies. This grant is designed to provide risk funds to test the direct-mail ideas that your organization has, but has lacked the resources to execute.

Audience Analytics provides participants with easy-to-use tools to better understand their current audience demographics and behaviors to identify best prospects for new audiences. The Micro Grants for Direct Mail Innovation is designed for organizations to utilize the insights gained from the Audience Analytics tools to develop and try new direct marketing strategies. 

This grant is specifically for direct mail innovation and testing. Potential projects could include campaigns targeted to new audience segments through Audience Analytics research, evaluating different response rates based on changes to messaging or offer, and response report or source report tracking to see which list performed best in a campaign. 
Successful applications that will receive funding will: 

• Demonstrate how the proposed direct mail campaign is different from the organization’s current approach to direct mail
• Be based on insights gained from Audience Analytics reports and tools
• Will plan to use Audience Analytics in some way
• Track the results of the experiment using A/B testing, response or source reporting, or other suitable measurement systems. 
• Explain how this experiment might influence future direct-mail campaigns or strategy
• Utilize the free reports foun in eMerge (soon to be Data Center) including, Demographic Report, Zip Penetrations Report, Segmentation Penetration Report, and Crossover Report. 

HOW TO APPLY

The grant may be used for any direct-mailing campaign experiment or strategy that meets the above criteria and can be used for any associated expenses with the project such as, mail house fees, consultation costs, design, printing, and postage. Applicants may only submit one application per grant cycle. 

Download the 2014 Micro Grants for Direct Mail Innovations Guidelines & Application

2015 APPLICATION DEADLINE

All applications are due on Friday, October 24, 2014 by 5:00PM EST

ELIGIBILITY

• Must be a current participant in the 2015 Audience Analytics program and represent an organization, collective, or group. Individuals may not apply.
• The Micro Grants for Direct Mail Innovation cannot be used for direct-mail campaigns completed prior to the application deadline.
•  Participation fees for Audience Analytics (if applicable) must not be delinquent. 

AWARD AMOUNTS

• Applicants who are Standard Account participants are eligible to receive an award up to $2,000
• Applicants who are Advanced Account participants are eligible to receive an award up to $4,000

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• Please notify the Cultural Alliance immediately of any major changes to your project.
• Within 60 days of completing your experiment you must submit a final report to the Cultural Alliance that includes a brief description of your experiments results and its influence on future direct-mail campaigns. 
• Report forms are mailed to you with your award letter. They will also be available online. 
• All experiments must be completed and final reports submitted by Tuesday, June 30, 2015. 

APPLICATION SUBMISSION
Please download and complete the full application and guidelines by Friday, October 24, 2014 by 5:00PM EST.

Email, fax, or mail completed applications to:

Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Attention: Audience Analytics Micro Grants
1315 Walnut St. Suite 732
Philadelphia, PA 19107

EMAIL: britneyh@philaculture.org
FAX: (215)557-7823

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions, contact Britney Hines Boggs, Program & Sales Coordinator at (215)399-3524 or britneyh@philaculture.