Case Study: Student Sponsor Partners achieves 172% increase in back-to-school donations with Blackbaud

Student Sponsor Partners Increases Donations through Targeted Email Campaign

Student Sponsor Partners (SSP) is a New York City nonprofit that provides four years of college-preparatory education and mentoring to at-risk students. Each fall SSP runs a back-to-school email appeal to grow its annual fund and acquire new donors, but results had been inconsistent (raising $1,100–$6,000 in prior years) and the organization struggled to expand giving beyond mentors or improve email open and conversion rates.

SSP worked with Blackbaud Strategy Services to adopt email testing and personalized messaging, including tailored ask amounts and subject-line A/B tests. Testing six subject lines revealed one that drove four times the conversions, and using personalized content led to three times as many donations and a 172% increase in online giving—raising $16,310, with most gifts coming from non-mentors.

Student Sponsor Partners