Case study
Acorn data enables the RSPB to deliver relevant and targeted supporter communications
Summary
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is one of the largest wildlife conservation organisations in Europe, with over one million active members. The organisation speaks out for birds and wildlife, with particular focus on the species and habitats that are in the greatest danger. As well as the active supporter base, RSPB’s network includes almost 18,000 volunteers and over 2,000 staff across more than 200 nature reserves. The organisation’s single vision is to work for a better environment rich in birds and wildlife.
Company Size
1000 – 5000
Industry
Non-Profit
Products Used
Summary
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is one of the largest wildlife conservation organisations in Europe, with over one million active members. The organisation speaks out for birds and wildlife, with particular focus on the species and habitats that are in the greatest danger. As well as the active supporter base, RSPB’s network includes almost 18,000 volunteers and over 2,000 staff across more than 200 nature reserves. The organisation’s single vision is to work for a better environment rich in birds and wildlife.
Challenge
The simplicity of Acorn is one of the main reasons the RSPB chose and continues to use Acorn. The data captured whilst at a reserve or in the high street just requires a postcode, something which most of the RSPB’s supporters are happy to provide.
Supporting the support
As well as birds and wildlife, the RSPB also loves its supporters and volunteers! Knowing where they live and come from and so distance travelled to, for instance, a nature reserve, is an important part of understanding the RSPB’s audiences.
Solution
The RSPB covers a wide spectrum of activities: managing nature reserves, involvement in species recovery and large-scale conservation projects, deploying national and local fundraising initiatives, operating an e-commerce site, listening to members’ requirements and concerns and ensuring resources are optimally deployed. Acorn, with its combination of location and demographic information, enhances the organisation’s understanding and evaluation of member and volunteer interactions across all of these activities.
Acorn is used for profiling, campaign selections, reporting and insight, for example understanding participants in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch event held every year in January. Ultimately, Acorn helps the RSPB to deliver relevant communications to its supporter base.
Results
- Acorn is applied to records on the RSPB single supporter database, hosted by CACI, ensuring consistency of the organisation’s understanding of its supporters and volunteers
- Acorn helps to personalise communications and content, thereby enabling marketing spend to be distributed with improved efficiency and effectiveness
- The RSPB can better understand audiences for whom only a postcode is known
- Overall, Acorn plays an important role in keeping RSPB audiences engaged with its brand for longer
