2026 Direct Mail Survey

1. What originally motivated you to make your first gift to North Shore Animal League America?

Love of animals

Personal experience adopting a pet

Rescue and welfare mission

Recommendation from a friend or family member

Direct mail appeal

Other (please specify)Other (please specify)

2. When you receive a mailing from North Shore Animal League America, what is your typical reaction?

I open it immediately

I usually open it later

I skim it before deciding whether to read more

I rarely open it

I discard it without opening

3. How satisfied are you with your experience responding to North Shore Animal League America mailings by mail?

4. Do you feel North Shore Animal League America sends the right number of mailings each year?

Too many

About the right amount

Too few

Not sure

5. Which type of envelope content is most likely to encourage you to open a mailing?

Heartwarming rescue stories

Urgent animal-in-need messaging

Photos of rescued animals

Personalized messages

Special gifts or incentives

Other (please specify)Other (please specify)

6. Which type of animal imagery motivates you most to support North Shore Animal League America?

7. Which type of story inspires you to donate?

Animals in immediate need of rescue

Successful rescue and recovery stories

Adoption success stories

Long-term impact stories

Staff or volunteer stories

8. What length letter do you prefer when supporting our organization?

Short (1 page or less)

Medium (1–2 pages)

Long (2+ pages)

No preference

9. What type of incentive or gift would you prefer to receive in your mailing?

Physical gift/incentive with your mailing, such as: Personalized return mail labels, To/From gift labels, Pocket planner, Notecards

Digital incentives you can access online, such as: Digital rescue story eBook (downloadable PDF), Digital mobile calendar featuring rescued animals, Adult coloring page collection (downloadable set), Digital thank you letter “from a rescued animal”, Kids’ printable rescue activity pack

10. When responding to a mailing, what is your preferred method for making a donation?

11. When a donation is matched by another donor (a matching gift campaign), does that make you more likely to contribute?

Yes

No

Not sure

12. What would you like to see North Shore Animal League America do differently with the mail you receive from us? *

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *