Case Study: Illinois State Treasurer boosts 529 enrollments with Civis Analytics

Illinois State Treasurer boosts 529 enrollments by 40% with Civis Analytics

The Illinois State Treasurer, Michael W. Frerichs, faced the challenge of increasing participation in the state's 529 college savings plan, particularly among underrepresented populations and families with young children. With a limited budget, the office's traditional marketing efforts were proving ineffective. They partnered with Civis Analytics to find a more efficient way to identify and reach the residents most likely to enroll.

Civis Analytics built a predictive model using over 15 years of data to identify high-potential residents and test messaging. They recommended a shift to a digital-first strategy and provided a dashboard for tracking performance. As a result, Civis Analytics helped achieve a 40% increase in enrollments, with record-breaking new account signups for three consecutive years. Their targeted approach made recipients 4.4 times more likely to open an account compared to the general population.

Michael W. Frerichs - Illinois State Treasurer