TrueSense Marketing is thrilled to announce that three campaigns developed for our nonprofit partners earned Bronze awards in the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association’s (DMFA) 2026 competition. These honors celebrate innovative approaches to donor engagement across digital, multichannel, and stewardship strategies.
The winning campaigns represent the diverse ways in which TrueSense works alongside nonprofit partners to create meaningful fundraising experiences that resonate with donors and drive mission impact.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank participated in Chip In, Chip Away: a coordinated national day of giving created by TrueSense that launched on July 10, 2025.
This campaign represented a structural innovation in how food banks and similar organizations approach fundraising during peak demand periods. Rather than functioning as a single organization’s acquisition tool, the campaign operated as a shared infrastructure that allowed many nonprofits to participate.
The messaging centered on a simple but compelling truth: “As prices rise and families face financial uncertainty, we need to come together so no one in our community faces hunger.” This core message appeared across digital touchpoints, creating a unified voice for the cause.
What made this approach particularly meaningful was how it embodied the principles of equity and inclusion. The campaign provided a broad opportunity for community members from all walks of life to contribute what they were able to give, creating camaraderie and partnership around a shared mission.
The results demonstrated the model’s viability. The campaign generated $23,080.62 in total gross revenue from 214 donations, with a campaign cost of just $1,250. The structural innovation proved that coordinated fundraising could work as a replicable model to be deployed annually or during crisis periods.
Baylor College of Medicine’s Day of Giving campaign earned Bronze in the multichannel category, demonstrating how coordinated messaging across multiple channels can strengthen donor engagement. This integrated approach allowed Baylor to reach supporters through their preferred communication methods while maintaining consistent messaging and creative throughout the campaign.
The results were extraordinary. The initial goal of $125,000 was surpassed within the first few hours, prompting the team to increase the goal to $250,000 and extend the campaign to 48 hours. Ultimately, the campaign generated $398,913 in total gross revenue from an average gift of $605, with a cost to raise a dollar of just $0.15.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s stewardship campaign took Bronze, highlighting the organization’s commitment to recognizing and nurturing its donor relationships. Effective stewardship transforms one-time donors into long-term partners, and this campaign exemplified best practices in donor recognition and engagement.
The campaign connected with donors in a meaningful way. The email reached 46,279 recipients and achieved a 58.2% open rate with a 2.03% click-through rate. The text campaign delivered 8,392 messages with a 0.77% reply rate. Opt-out rates were remarkably low across both channels, and the organization heard directly from donors who appreciated the gesture.
Perhaps most telling, one donor was so moved that they sent an unsolicited $500 gift, even though no ask was ever made. The Thank-A-Thon helped to set the stage for a strong response to the organization’s subsequent GivingTuesday and year-end asks, suggesting that the investment in gratitude paid dividends when it mattered most.
These awards reflect TrueSense Marketing’s commitment to developing innovative and effective campaigns. By combining data-driven strategy with creative excellence, TrueSense helps nonprofits connect with donors in meaningful ways. The agency’s fully integrated approach means that every element of these campaigns — from initial strategy through final execution — was developed with a deep understanding of nonprofit fundraising challenges and opportunities.
The recognition of these three campaigns underscores what’s possible when nonprofits partner with an agency that understands their mission and brings both strategic thinking and creative innovation to the table.
Congratulations to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma on these well-deserved honors.