The USPS has released an overview of potential changes they plan to propose with the July 2025 rate increase. While these are still proposals and subject to change, it’s important to be aware of the potential impact on your mailing strategies. Here’s a quick rundown of some key areas being considered...

Higher education institutions use direct mail, an effective marketing channel with high rates of conversions, to reach out to prospective students, alumni, donors, and other stakeholders. From printing and production to postage expenses, each piece of mail sent out impacts the number of donors and dollars an organization brings in. Not only does undeliverable mail incur unnecessary spending, it can also lead to potential lost donations and even donor drop-off.

The United States Postal Service today announced refined service standards for certain market-dominant services. This includes service standard adjustments for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Marketing Mail, and Package Services (Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail). The changes will maintain service at existing levels for most volume and upgrade standards for more market-dominant volume than is downgraded. The changes will enhance service reliability nationwide while maintaining the existing five-day service standard day range for First-Class Mail, whereas the day ranges for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals and Package Services will be shortened. Similar changes will be made with respect to the Postal Service’s competitive products.

Colleges and universities count on direct mail as part of their fund-raising, annual giving and recruitment campaigns. Minimizing undeliverable mail is an easy way to more effectively reach potential donors and students... and saves money! We are looking forward being part of the CASE District I conference in Boston on March 12-14, 2025!