A potential postal strike is looming.

The conciliation process between Canada Post Corporation (CPC) and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is underway. Their aim is to reach a new collective agreement. However, if no agreement is reached, a postal strike could happen as early as mid-October.

For some nonprofit organizations, as much as 75% of their annual revenue comes in the last quarter of the calendar year. That revenue cannot be at risk. We must be prepared.

Here are five tips for maintaining your fundraising through a postal strike:

1. Include an informational insert in all mailings

• Encourage donors to give online or by phone.
• Remind donors that they can still use the mail to give. All mail will eventually reach its destination – especially if it’s a rotating strike.

2. Use SMS to connect with your donors

• Donors are getting increasingly comfortable sending and receiving texts.
• Include a link to your donation page in your text messages

3. Enhance your email solicitation

• Email more frequently.
• Include information about the postal strike.
• Tell donors why it’s important they give, and if it’s truly urgent, say so.

4. Update your homepage

• Include a pop-up with information.
• Encourage gifts online or by phone.
• Ensure your phones are being answered and ensure a smooth online donor experience. And, right this minute, call your organization and make a test gift online. There’s nothing as revealing as checking the donor experience first-hand.

5. As always, be sure to keep calm and fundraise on.

It’s worth noting that we have weathered CPC strikes many times in the past, including as recently as 2018. At that time, CUPW challenged the use of back to work (BTW) legislation in court. The courts determined that BTW legislation was indeed appropriate, at least in the run up to the holiday season. If there is a strike, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that our “posties” will be forced back to work.

Want to dive deeper into digital fundraising? Call or drop me a line. I love speaking with fellow fundraisers.

As CEO of Stephen Thomas Ltd (ST) Paula Attfield is passionate about helping nonprofit clients raise more money, particularly in the realm of integrated direct response annual giving. Contact her, PaulaA@stephenthomas.ca