When federal funding cuts threatened critical food access across Illinois, Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) needed a fast, effective way to replace lost dollars and build long-term stability. Allegiance Group + Pursuant (AGP) launched a targeted sustainer campaign designed to quickly convert previous donors into committed monthly givers.
6.5x+
increase in new monthly sustainers YoY
8x+
growth in new monthly sustainer revenue YoY
50+
new monthly sustainers, which more than doubled our monthly goal
The Situation
The nonprofit faced a sudden funding shortfall and a clear goal: acquire 50+ new monthly donors to help stock the shelves. With audience behaviors shifting and competition for donor attention rising, NIFB needed a data-driven approach that could scale impact quickly.
The Work
AGP activated a multi-channel Community Response campaign across July 2025, built around urgency and precision targeting.
Deliverables
- Segmented Paid Social campaigns on Facebook & Instagram using GivingDNA political affiliation data
- Hard “cuts-based” messaging to Democratic-leaning previous donors
- Soft “funding update” messaging to Republican and Unaffiliated donors
- Email appeals retargeting recent one-time donors (0–12 months)
Harder “Cuts-Based” Messages to Democratic-Leaning Donors vs. “Funding Update” Messages to Republican and Unaffiliated Donors
AGP helped us transform an urgent moment into long-term donor commitment. Their segmented approach to sustainer giving ensured the right message reached the right supporters — and the results speak for themselves.
Julia Jones
Development office, Northern Illinois food bank
The Results
- New Monthly Sustainers increased 6.5x+ YoY
- New Monthly Sustainer Revenue grew 8x+ YoY
- More than doubled our monthly goal of 50+ New Monthly Sustainers
- Paid Social performance exceeded industry benchmarks for both ROAS and CPA
