Communicating through postage stamps has to be one of the most esoteric medium in the nonprofit world but digital cameras and computer tools can provide fast, high quality products with “wow."
Zazzle Custom Stamps allows you to produce postage stamps from your logo, photo or other design. At http://www.zazzle.com/, use the drag and drop tool to design small, medium or large stamps that meet postal regulations. Twenty 42-cent stamps costs $15-$19 depending on size and purchasing more sheets reduces the cost. You can also print postcards or produce stamps to sell as a fund raiser. The program accepts JPEG, PNG, GIF or TIFF files and prints at a minimum of 200 ppi.
Even American Idol, which popularized text messaging, is going the custom postage stamp route. As part of the Idol Gives Back fundraising effort, stamps featuring the six idols and this year's winner will be available to fans. If the limited editions — 100,000 20-stamp sheets for each idol — sell out, it would raise about $7 million. Other companies that partner with the U.S. Postal Service on such products are Photo Stamps, Picture It Postage, and Stamp Expressions.
Speaking of postage, a time-saving idea comes from Stamps.com where you can print your own postage stamps in any denomination and for the exact amount needed. You pay $15.95 per month and are provided with the software that connects you to the Stamps.com secure site. You can purchase and replenish postage in your account via a credit card. Print on envelopes or labels available through the site or at many office supply stores. Windows operating systems are required along with standard laser and dot matrix printers capable of 300 dpi.
Myrna Meadows, NRS, International Falls
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