Wilderness News
Reimagining donor care through Wilderness News.
Overview
Working together, Marlin and The Wilderness Society set out to rejuvenate Wilderness News, a long-running supporter publication that had been part of the organisation’s donor communications for more than twenty years.
The shared ambition was to return the publication to a donor-centric magazine that reassures supporters, deepens connection to the field and clearly demonstrates the impact of their support.
Through close collaboration, Wilderness News was reimagined as a contemporary donor care publication built on trust, pride and connection.
Rich storytelling, clear editorial structure and strong imagery helped supporters feel confident in the role they play in protecting Australia’s wild places.
Problem
Rebuild a long-running supporter newsletter into a trusted donor care publication that reassures supporters and clearly demonstrates impact.
Solution
Together, we reimagined Wilderness News as a donor-centred magazine that builds trust, showcases impact and reconnects supporters with the wild.
Results
The refreshed donor newsletter strengthened donor trust and pride, with supporters responding positively to its clarity, design and storytelling.
“Marlin went above and beyond to ensure that they understood what we were trying to achieve. The Marlin team’s passion for this project really shone through in our work together and in the results as well. Our supporters have responded so positively to the work and we’re really grateful for the beautiful materials that we can leave with supporters which matches our values and conversations with them.”
Cherie Hansell, Key Relationship ManagerThe Wilderness Society
The Challenge
Over time, Wilderness News had lost clarity of purpose, making it harder for supporters to understand how the publication fit within the wider donor journey.
The challenge was to create a donor care publication that felt relevant, engaging and valuable while serving a broad audience of members, donors and supporters.
It needed to reassure supporters that their choice to support The Wilderness Society was the right one, provide credible insight into current work and offer an enjoyable reading experience they would want to spend time with and share. Achieving this balance was essential to rebuilding trust and connection.
The Solution
Our creative approach centred on reassurance, credibility and pride. The donor care proposition Wild Places Need You became the foundation for the renewed Wilderness News.
Marlin worked in partnership with The Wilderness Society to design a versatile magazine template that felt more like a lifestyle publication than a traditional newsletter. Clear wayfinding, strong visual storytelling and accessible layouts made the content easy to skim and enjoyable to read. Working closely with the client, we shaped a publication that balanced campaign updates, lived perspectives and cultural context.
The Results
The refreshed Wilderness News was met with strong positive feedback from both the client and supporters, with donors responding to the clarity, quality and pride reflected in the publication, re-established Wilderness News as a valued part of The Wilderness Society’s donor care programme.
