Work
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Engaging the community to raise funds

Campaigns
Family and community
Health

Raising money from individual donors takes time, focus, and talent—especially when your development staff is small. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) has partnered with Big Duck for more than a decade to offset their small staff size and achieve big results in a way that centers around the needs and changes in their community.

Growing together

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy fights to end Duchenne—the most common muscular dystrophy in children. When Big Duck and PPMD began working together over 15 years ago, PPMD was a small nonprofit responding to a very big need. Staff were stretched thin and largely focused on programs, with no dedicated fundraisers on staff. We stepped in to help.

Big Duck has since helped PPMD launch and run over a dozen successful multi-channel fundraising campaigns that meet or surpass industry benchmarks, often during periods where they had no full-time fundraisers on staff. In parallel, we’ve helped them craft and refine their brand strategy and assets so that everyone affected by Duchenne has powerful, consistent experiences with them.

Today, they are recognized around the world as the leader of the movement to end Duchenne, celebrated for their successes in the rare disease community, and their annual income has grown steadily—now exceeding 11 million dollars annually.

Tapping into the heart of the community

We develop fundraising themes for PPMD that resonate with their core supporters—families diagnosed with Duchenne—and speak to the most exciting opportunities or pressing issues facing them Often, we launch new themes during the year-end giving season, taking advantage of #GivingTuesday and other key fundraising opportunities. Sometimes these themes are expanded on throughout the year and may be used to bring attention to a very specific initiative. Themes always feature photos, stories, and experiences of the families, partners, and staff members at the heart of their work.

PPMD_Slide1_2021
1/5
Over the years, PPMD’s campaigns invite audiences into their mission. In 2020, the campaign announced a new, research initiative and funded an exciting project for the entire community -- motivating families and friends to give”
PPMD_Slide2
2/5
We make donating fast and intuitive for PPMD’s site visitors using tactics like themed giving pages, lightboxes, countdown clocks, and seamless donation forms.
PPMD_Slide3_2021
3/5
Email appeals and social media posts meet the community where they spend time.
PPMD_Slide4
4/5
PPMD’s 2016 direct mail piece was sent to about 3,000 fewer people than the previous year’s mailing—but raised 23% more funds as we continue to optimize their list.
PPMD_slide5_2021
5/5
Segmented email series drive giving in ways that feel more personalized and help grow the list.

One voice

We also worked with Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy to update their brand—including a new logo, tagline, and visual toolkit. Working on both their overall voice as well as distinct fundraising campaigns ensures that their community has a consistent and compelling experience with PPMD at every touchpoint.

As a result

PPMD sees exponential growth in dollars raised. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s first year-end campaign with Big Duck in 2007 saw a jump in donations of almost $400,000. Since then, we’ve helped them raise almost 10 million dollars and grow their annual revenue consistently.

77%

INCREASE IN DOLLARS RAISED
BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020.

The Big Duck team has increased the value of every fundraising dollar we spend exponentially. Throughout the years, we’ve used their simple, strong, and compelling campaign concepts as tools to build a dedicated base of supporters, donors, and advocates. They understand our community and our team.

— KIMBERLY GALBERAITH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Related Service

Campaigns

We develop campaigns that recruit participants, attract donors, raise awareness, and generate engagement every step of the way.

• Persuasive messaging
• Campaign planning and identity
• Campaign copywriting and design
• Case statement development
• Recruitment campaign materials
• Fundraising campaign materials
• Anniversary campaign materials
• Advocacy campaign materials
• Digital presentations
• Microsite strategy and design

Related Content

Are you ready to turn your team into a mighty fundraising force? Contact Big Duck.

×