Charities face unique print challenges — tight budgets, donor scrutiny and responsible spending. Here's how to get the most from your print budget sustainably.
Charities have a complex relationship with print. Marketing materials are necessary to reach donors — but every pound spent on print is a pound not spent on the cause.
The donor perception problem
If your materials look expensive, some donors will question whether their money is well spent. The solution is sustainable print that looks considered rather than cheap. Uncoated recycled stock and restrained design communicate thoughtfulness and values, not penny-pinching.
Specification guide for charities
- Annual reports: A5 saddle-stitched on recycled stock. Include the FSC logo — it tells donors you’ve thought about this.
- Fundraising appeals: A4 letter on recycled stock. The writing matters more than production quality.
- Event materials: Print minimum viable quantities — unused programmes are wasted money.
The financial case
FSC certified paper is now at or near the same price as uncertified paper. Vegetable inks cost the same. The incremental cost of sustainable print is minimal — and being able to say your materials are sustainably produced is genuinely valuable to donors.
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