Handwritten mail

Real handwriting. Reliable production.

A handwritten note can stand apart from the rest of the mailbox. Sterling produces personalized notes, letters and envelopes using real pen-and-ink processes, then handles the printing, inserting and mailing. We support individual projects as well as recurring programs and high-volume campaigns.

Samples

See the finished piece for yourself

Our Real Pen and AutoPen processes put a physical pen on paper. They are different from printed handwriting fonts, and we make that distinction clear. Request samples to compare the writing, stationery and finished mail piece before selecting an approach.

Production methods

Choose the right production method

Real Pen

Our most personal pen-and-ink treatment, often used for leadership correspondence, board communications and major donor notes.

AutoPen

Pen-and-ink handwriting produced at volume for donor acknowledgments, welcome mail, stewardship and direct-response campaigns.

Laser Pen

Printed handwriting-style mail for projects where a handwritten appearance and production economics are the priorities. This is a printed treatment, not pen-and-ink handwriting.

Where it is used

Common applications

New donor acknowledgments and welcome notes
Second-gift and retention mailings
Mid-level and major donor correspondence
Lapsed donor outreach
Personalized outer envelopes for direct-mail campaigns

Campaign results

Results from a handwritten-mail test

In a national media ministry follow-up campaign, response increased from 2.6% with standard mail to 3.6% with a real-pen treatment. Net revenue was approximately 1.9 times higher at similar mailing volume. Handwriting adds production cost, so we recommend evaluating it against response and net results, not appearance alone.

2.6%

Standard-mail response

3.6%

Real-pen response

~1.9x

Net revenue

Handwriting styles

Handwriting that fits your organization

Choose from more than 15 available handwriting styles. With authorization, we can also develop a style based on a leader’s handwriting. Names and other approved variable fields can be personalized from your data file.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is it actually handwritten?

Real Pen and AutoPen use a physical pen and ink. Laser Pen is printed. We will identify the process used in your project.

What do you need to get started?

Approved copy, a data file, project specifications and timing. We review the file requirements, address processing and personalization with you.

Can you supply stationery?

Yes. We can print stationery and envelopes or work with materials you provide.

What about postage?

We support nonprofit and First-Class options, including live stamps when appropriate, as well as presort and postal preparation.

How much can you produce?

Projects range from a few hundred pieces to approximately 300,000 pieces, with recurring production available.

How do we know the mailing is complete?

We confirm the schedule and provide the final mail date and piece count.

Request samples

We’ll send finished examples and help you compare methods, quantities and costs for your project.

Handwritten mail, donor communication production and outsourced donor services for nonprofits, ministries and fundraising agencies.

Explore

Talk to us

[email protected]
Sterling, Kansas