Newsletter Case Study: Driving Over 700% ROI through Nostalgia-Driven Fan Engagement

Disclaimer: All Athletiverse newsletters come with custom UTM tracking, ensuring that all revenue generated is accurately attributed to the newsletter. This provides clear insights into the direct impact of Athletiverse's efforts on donations, merchandise sales, and other revenue channels.

Click here to meet with our team and learn more.

Want more updates? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter breaking down sports marketing's latest trends and data in less than 90 seconds.

Background

This past summer, we partnered with a mid-major college NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) collective aiming to bolster digital fundraising efforts.

Before working with Athletiverse, the collective primarily relied on traditional methods, raising around $95,000 annually with no digital fundraising.

The collective’s mission centered on funding student-athlete initiatives and launching philanthropic ventures. Athletiverse stepped in to help streamline their efforts and maximize their digital reach.

Solution

Athletiverse launched a custom newsletter designed to engage fans through nostalgia-driven storytelling. The campaign’s focus was on sharing authentic, first-person narratives from student-athletes, coupled with interviews and insights directly from the collective’s initiatives.

The newsletter emphasized the emotional connection between alumni and current athletes, creating an environment where donors felt compelled to support their teams and athletes.

Results

Since implementing the Athletiverse newsletter:

• Over 700% ROI: The collective achieved a substantial return on their investment. The collective saw approximately just over 700% ROI, showcasing the impact of Athletiverse’s nostalgia-focused strategy in driving donations and event purchasing.
• $70,000 in Digital Donations: For the first time, the collective raised $70,000 in digital donations, proving the effectiveness of the newsletter in driving direct fan support.
• Over $300,000 in Committed Funds for 2025: The collective now has over $300,000 in pledged funds for the upcoming school year, demonstrating nearly a 300% increase in overall fundraising impact.
• The percentage increase from the original committed funds to the 2025 committed funds is approximately 215.79%
• Significant Time and Cost Savings: Athletiverse’s full-service approach—covering content creation, graphic design, and list growth—saved the collective roughly 8-10 hours each week, freeing up resources to focus on other initiatives.

Data Visualization:

• The following chart demonstrates the different package levels Athletiverse currently offers with the ROI that was seen on this given account

Key Newsletter Benefits for College Athletic Departments and Collectives

• Time Savings: On average, Athletiverse’s newsletters save departments around 8-10 hours weekly in graphic design and content creation, allowing teams to reallocate resources.
• Reduced Marketing Costs: By centralizing communication in a single, effective newsletter, marketing budgets are streamlined for small and large staffs.
• Additional Sponsorship Opportunities: The newsletter provides valuable sponsorship ad slots, creating another revenue stream for athletic departments.

Addressing Donor Fatigue

Donor fatigue often results from repetitive requests, lack of transparency, overwhelming information, or a lack of appreciation. Athletiverse’s newsletters counteract these challenges by:

• Segmenting Donors: By categorizing donors based on preferences, the collective sends tailored messages, reducing over-communication.
• Personalizing Messaging: Each donor interaction is personalized, fostering a genuine connection.
• Using Analytics: Donor analytics software identifies those most at risk of disengagement, enabling targeted re-engagement efforts.

Future Outlook

As Athletiverse looks toward 2025, it will offer the first month of services free for college athletic departments and NIL collectives and wave set-up fees. This initiative is designed to showcase the value of underutilized email lists, often reserved only for annual fundraising, in strengthening year-round fan engagement and brand loyalty.

This case study exemplifies Athletiverse’s ability to not only drive immediate financial impact for clients but also to cultivate lasting fan relationships by tapping into the power of nostalgia. With over 700% ROI, Athletiverse has proven that a personalized, nostalgic approach can significantly elevate donation and engagement levels.

To meet with our team today to learn more, feel free to schedule a time that works best for you.