Push the Envelope: Fuse's Guide to 2026 Postal Savings
Great direct mail does two things well: it tells a compelling story and makes it easy for donors to respond. In 2026, the USPS is encouraging both — and rewarding nonprofits who take advantage of it.
USPS Postal Promotions offer nonprofits meaningful postage savings for mail that already reflects what we know works: smart timing, engaging formats, and simple digital connections.
Postage is often one of the largest line items in a direct mail budget. But 2026 doesn't have to be a year of 'just getting by' on rising rates. Instead, think of these USPS Promotions as a way to reduce costs on your highest-volume campaigns while actually increasing donor engagement. At Fuse, we’re moving past the 'check-the-box' mentality and treating these as a part of the overarching strategic roadmap.
Here's how Fuse recommends approaching the 2026 USPS Promotions to maximize both savings and impact in your program:
1. Familiarize yourself with the promotions and their eligibility periods: Each promotion has a specific "window," and some (like the Integrated Technology promo) even allow you to choose your own six-month timeframe. We’ve dropped the full breakdown of these dates below so you can see exactly when the discounts are up for grabs.
2. Grab your strategic roadmaps: Don't just look for a discount; look for the impact. Identify your highest-volume mailings and align them with the promotions that amplify their message.
3. Question the status quo: If you’ve been sending the same package for years because you were afraid of the extra cost, 2026 could be the time to think about some new ideas. USPS promotions are designed to reward creativity, engagement and innovation — giving you the opportunity to test formats, textures, and storytelling techniques with some ways to offset costs.
Below, we outline the USPS Postal Promotions available in 2026 and show how each can be leveraged strategically to maximize both savings and impact.
2026 Core USPS Promotions
Integrated Technology Promotion
Postage savings: Up to 5%
The USPS Integrated Technology Promotion rewards mail that connects physical pieces to digital experiences. For nonprofits, this often means a simple QR code on a part of the mailing such as a letter, outer envelope or insert — that links to a mobile-optimized donation page, a short impact video, or a matching-gift landing page — all designed to make giving easy for donors. Be sure that the QR code is printed on a component that the donor would not return (so avoid the reply form or reply envelope) in order to qualify for this discount!
The promotion can also include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when it is part of the mail experience itself. For example, AI may be used to help generate or tailor copy, images, or messaging variations so content feels more relevant to different donor segments. While AI works behind the scenes, it must support a personalized or dynamic experience reflected in the final printed piece.
One of the most flexible promotions of the year, you are able to select any six consecutive months to apply the discount. This makes it ideal for pairing with your highest-volume period — whether that’s spring fundraising, fall acquisition, or year-end appeals.
Promotion period: Any six consecutive months in 2026
Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Promotion
Postage savings: Up to 5%
The USPS Tactile Promotion encourages donor engagement through touch, texture, and interaction. Qualifying enhancements include textured coatings, embossing or debossing, specialty varnishes, pull tabs, popups, and unique folds — such as an embossed headline on a donor letter or a pull tab that reveals a key impact message.
This promotion creates an opportunity to rethink standard formats. If you’ve relied on the same envelope or paper stock to avoid the extra cost of a textured finish or a trailing edge, now is the time to consider those new ideas. The USPS is literally paying you to be creative. Use these incentives to your advantage!
That said, success comes from strategic use, not adding tactile elements just to earn a discount. The goal is to choose enhancements that naturally support the message, fit the audience, and align with the overall package — ensuring the added production cost is justified by stronger engagement and response.
When planned intentionally, tactile elements can reinforce emotionally driven storytelling and help key messages stand out in a crowded mailbox.
Promotion period: January 1 – June 30, 2026
Continuous Contact Promotion
Postage savings: Up to 5%
The Continuous Contact Promotion rewards nonprofits for mailing a planned sequence of related mailings to the same audience, such as an appeal followed by a stewardship piece that carries the story forward or even a two-part appeal that includes a traditional follow-up. Each piece should build upon or complement the previous message, creating a cohesive donor journey over time.
This promotion works especially well for stewardship series, welcome programs, or multi-touch fundraising efforts where consistent communication strengthens donor relationships.
Promotion period: April 1 – December 31, 2026
First-Class Mail Advertising Promotion
Postage savings: Up to 5%
This promotion encourages the use of First-Class Mail for advertising content, including fundraising appeals, invitations, and donor communications that benefit from faster delivery and higher visibility.
This can be a strategic option for mailings to higher-value donors, enhancing the personal touch of the appeal.
Promotion period: September 1 – December 31, 2026
Catalog Insights Promotion
Postage savings: Up to 10%
The Catalog Insights Promotion offers the largest discount of the year and applies to bound, multipage catalogs, such as your annual impact report or welcome packet booklet. While traditionally retail-focused, nonprofits can leverage this format for impact reports, gift guides, or comprehensive program storytelling.
For organizations with strong content, this promotion can support deeper engagement while delivering substantial postage savings.
Promotion period: October 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Add-On Promotions: Stackable Savings That Extend Impact
In addition to the core promotions, USPS offers add-ons that can be layered onto qualifying campaigns to increase savings and reach.
Informed Delivery® Add-On
Additional postage savings: Up to 1%
Strategically, this is one of the easiest wins in the promotion lineup. When stacked with a qualifying core promotion, Informed Delivery adds extra visibility, an additional response path, and incremental postage savings — all with minimal lift.
Informed Delivery allows donors to preview your mail piece digitally before it arrives, showing an image of the mail piece along with a ride along image and a single clickable URL. That URL can direct donors to a campaign-specific website or donation page, creating an early engagement moment before the physical mail even lands.
Don’t miss this low-bar opportunity for savings! As one of our Fuse favorites, Informed Delivery can be used throughout the year, but postal savings are only applied when it is stacked with a qualifying core promotion. For nonprofits, it works best as a smart enhancement layered onto major campaigns — especially time sensitive appeals.
Sustainability Add-On
Additional postage savings: Up to 1%
The Sustainability Add-On provides additional postage savings for mail produced using responsibly sourced, sustainably produced paper. To qualify, the paper used in your mailing must carry an eligible certification, such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative), ensuring they come from forests managed with environmental protection, biodiversity, and ethical forestry practices in mind.
No creative or design changes are required to take advantage of this add-on — only documentation verifying the certified paper source. This makes it another easy way to achieve additional postage savings while also supporting sustainability goals.
For organizations already using certified sustainable paper, the add-on provides recognition and a small savings boost without any material changes. For those considering switching to certified paper, the environmental benefits may align with organizational priorities, though keep in mind the postage savings alone may not offset the cost of changing materials long-term.
What the Savings Can Look Like
When promotions are stacked, the impact becomes clear. For example, one of your mailings could qualify for:
· 5% Integrated Technology Promotion
· 1% Informed Delivery Add-On
· 1% Sustainability Add-On
That’s up to 7% in postage savings applied to a single campaign — translating into dollars that can be reinvested into creative testing, audience expansion, or follow-up fundraising.
Planning Ahead Makes It Easy
Postal Promotions don’t have to feel complicated. With early planning and thoughtful creative choices, nonprofits can reduce postage costs while delivering more engaging donor experiences.
USPS is incentivizing creativity, consistency, and connection — and 2026 is a strong year to take advantage. When promotions are built into your annual plan — instead of added at the last minute — they become less about checking boxes and more about making your direct mail work smarter.
Lower postage, stronger engagement, and more dollars back into your mission is a combination worth planning for.
Reach Out to Connect
If you’re looking for an established, highly knowledgeable production partner to help identify the right promotions, align timing with your highest-volume campaigns, and uncover cost-effective strategies, we’re here to help. Reach out to start the conversation and make the most of USPS Postal Promotions in 2026.