Costly Mail Concerns

We are committed to make the best use of donor dollars to further our mission and honor the trust that has been placed in us. We work carefully to balance expenditures with the need to produce materials and share our work with potential supporters. A few of the ways we lower costs are:

o Price of printing is greatly influenced by quantity; the more you print, the less it costs per piece. Our main publications print in quantities that qualify for the maximum discounts.
o We are fortunate to have outstanding photographers and graphic artists on staff who give our printed pieces a truly professional quality. These are effective at telling stories and attracting new and retaining existing donors.
o We use recycled paper whenever possible. There is no single standard for recycled certification, however, we work to be compliant with FSC certification standards whenever possible (Forest Stewardship Council- currently the most globally accepted certification process for ensuring environmental responsibility). We work to get the best possible combination of price, recycled content and sustainability to make the most of every donor dollar while making responsible use of the Earth's resources.
o Paper used for the World Ark publication averages 30 percent post-consumer waste, and, in fact, is at least 85 percent recycled taking into account the recycling of old magazines that were not sold. This paper is also less expensive than many papers having far less recycled content, which, oddly enough, is sold at a premium.

Caring for the Earth and responsibly using our finite funding resources are of the utmost importance to us, and we always strive to make well-researched, effective use of our print materials.