Case Study: Catholic Relief Services achieves 4,100% more sign-ups and ongoing attendee engagement with Upland Software mobile messaging

Catholic Relief Services - Customer Case Study

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a U.S.-based international relief and development agency that runs the annual Rice Bowl program to engage faith communities in global poverty issues. After Rice Bowl speaker events left audiences inspired, CRS struggled to convert that one-time engagement into ongoing connections — paper sign-up cards yielded only 13 responses in 2016, so they needed a simpler, more effective way to stay in touch.

CRS piloted a mobile messaging campaign inviting event attendees to text RICE BOWL to 30644, then sent speaker-linked, mission-focused messages (and weekly follow-ups during Lent). The pilot generated 535 signups from 28 events in two regions — a 4,100% improvement over the prior year — and CRS plans to expand the program and integrate social media to drive further engagement.

Catholic Relief Services

Phoebe Heibeck

Program Coordinator