Lessons from the Last Postal Strike – and How to Be Ready for the Next One

With Canada once again facing the possibility of a postal strike, fundraisers are rightfully concerned about maintaining donation flow and supporter engagement. In December 2024, many charities had to quickly adapt their year-end fundraising plans in response to widespread postal service disruptions.

In February, Stratcom and our friends at ST hosted a webinar: “Lessons from the Last Postal Strike & How to Prepare for the Next One.” The session covered practical insights and strategic advice for navigating mail disruptions using multi-channel outreach.

If you missed the session, want to rewatch key moments, or share it with colleagues, you can find the replay below.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar:

Diversification is critical:

Many charities remain heavily reliant on direct mail and December fundraising. One case shared revealed 40% of annual revenue was generated in December alone—putting programs at high risk during a strike.

Rapid response through alternate channels:

• Text (SMS) campaigns were launched in the final days of 2024. While response varied—particularly for those using the channel for the first time—charities with existing text programs saw remarkable support.
• Live Calling (Telefundraising) proved highly effective, with over 4,000 calling hours added in a matter of weeks.
• Broadcast Voice Message (BVM)—while not a fundraising tool—were successfully used for supporter engagement, thank-yous, and priming future asks through other channels.

Preparation matters:

Organizations that had previously explored or implemented these channels were better positioned to act quickly.

Don’t Wait for Disruption to Hit

If your organization is still heavily dependent on direct mail, now is the time to start exploring alternative channels and contingency plans. Stratcom can support you with tools like SMS, live calling programs, and creative BVM strategies that engage and inspire.