For decades, Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (NLOM) in Ashland, NE has been a sanctuary for connection, growth, and reflection. Nestled in nature, it’s a place where children explore, families strengthen their bonds, and communities come together. Guided by a mission to create spaces where everyone feels welcome, NLOM has left a lasting impact on countless lives across generations.
As stewards of a campus that has impacted countless lives, NLOM recognized the need to address pressing challenges. Aging facilities, growing accessibility needs, and environmental challenges called for action to ensure the campus could continue serving future generations. That’s why NLOM launched the "Sustaining Sacred Spaces" campaign—a bold initiative to enhance their campus, restore natural resources, and preserve its legacy. To make this vision a reality, they needed more than just plans—they needed tools that could inspire action and rally their donor base. That’s when they partnered with Abstract Union.
The campaign encompasses a wide range of projects, from replacing tipis with year-round yurts and restoring lakes to creating accessible RV pads and parking areas for individuals with special needs. Each initiative addresses a critical need, but together they tell a larger story of renewal and preservation. Communicating the significance of each project while uniting them under a cohesive vision was a challenge that required thoughtful storytelling and design.
Our work with NLOM began with a shared vision: to create materials that were both visually striking and true to the organization’s brand identity. We explored how their signature green, blue, and red colors could anchor the campaign’s designs, ensuring they felt cohesive and instantly recognizable. By working closely with their team, we made intentional choices that reflected the vibrancy of NLOM’s mission and captured the natural beauty of their sacred spaces.
Dawning of a New Day with the Campaign Logo
For any nonprofit capital campaign, it’s important that potential donors immediately connect the initiative to the organization behind it. With NLOM’s capital campaign logo, we integrated their existing organization logo like an emblem, keeping it familiar and trustworthy. From there, we added flowing shapes to create a hill and winding roads—representing the transformative journeys campers experience and the deep connection to the land that defines NLOM’s mission.
A Booklet For Turning a New Leaf
A well-designed capital campaign multipage booklet is a cornerstone of campaign, giving donors a clear and compelling way to understand the vision of the project. For NLOM, the booklet brought their campaign story to life, combining vivid images of campers and families with the critical campaign details donors needed to know. Circles with subtle gradients framed photos and broke up the page, giving the design a sense of flow while keeping it organized and uncluttered. Photos were featured on every page—not just to show the facilities needing improvement, but to emphasize the people who would benefit from these changes. A slab serif paired with clean sans serif fonts, the design made the booklet approachable and easy to read, ensuring donors could connect with the campaign’s vision while navigating the details effortlessly.
News Just Around the Bend in a Packet Envelope
In today’s world, it’s easy for important mail to get lost in the shuffle. That’s why we designed a packet envelope for NLOM that not only grabbed attention but also introduced their campaign with impact. We kept the front of the envelope intentionally minimal, featuring the logo and sending address for immediate recognition. The back, however, is where the design truly shines. Using NLOM’s full brand color palette, bold red is featured on the flap with their slogan in white—standing out to remind recipients of the organization’s mission.
An image of a camper, framed in a circular shape, creates an instant emotional connection to who the campaign benefits. Geometric circles and gradients tie the design together, echoing elements from the campaign logo placed prominently in the center. Thin lines resembling a geographic map run along the edges, a subtle nod to the far-reaching impact these sacred spaces have on the community. Designed to be practical, cohesive, and eye-catching, the packet envelope sets the tone for the campaign and gets recipients excited to learn more.
An Envelope For All Seasons
After the packet envelope and booklet reaches donors, follow-up communication becomes essential for keeping the campaign’s momentum going. We designed a custom letterhead & No. 10 envelope set to give NLOM a thoughtful way to stay connected. The letterhead features circular shapes extending beyond two corners of the page, creating a distinct motif and leaving plenty of space for correspondence.
While the front of the envelope is intentionally minimal and functional, the back makes a striking impression. Overlapping gradient circles surround NLOM’s logo, creating a vibrant and cohesive visual that ties back to the campaign. Subtle map-like lines are worked into the design, offering a nod to the wide-reaching impact of these sacred spaces. Together, these thoughtful details reinforce the campaign’s message and ensure that every interaction feels intentional and memorable.
Through close collaboration with NLOM, we created campaign materials that brought every piece of the campaign mission to life—from adding year-round yurts to restoring lakes across the campus. Each project within the campaign was part of a larger vision: making NLOM a welcoming and enriching place for kids and families. The designs ensured that while each project was highlighted individually, donors could see how every piece worked together to support the overall mission. These materials gave NLOM the tools they needed to connect with their diverse donor base and make a powerful case for the Sustaining Sacred Spaces campaign.
Capturing the big picture of a campaign with so many interconnected projects was no small task, but we worked alongside NLOM to simplify the process. By creating cohesive, thoughtful communication tools, we allowed their team to focus on what mattered most—building meaningful connections with donors. Together, we transformed their vision into captivating materials that inspire action and sustained support for generations to come.
At Abstract Union, we understand the unique challenges of creating effective capital campaign materials. We tailor our approach to the specific needs of each client, ensuring that every piece reflects their mission and speaks directly to their audience. By blending thoughtful design with strategic storytelling, we create materials that are not just visually appealing but also highly effective in bringing your vision to life.
Curious to see more of our work? Check out how we partnered with Rawhide to craft impactful materials for their capital campaign: Youth Services Nonprofit Capital Campaign for All-Age Donors. They are a nonprofit dedicated to supporting at-risk youth through counseling services and residential treatment programs. We create materials with a contemporary rustic vibe that resonated with kids and adults alike.
Collaborating with NLOM was an incredible opportunity for Abstract Union. As an organization in our own backyard, it was especially meaningful to help them preserve and enhance sacred spaces that will serve kids and families for generations to come. This project allowed us to demonstrate how engaging and cohesive campaign materials can elevate an organization’s vision. If you’re ready to take your campaign to the next level, let us help you transform your ideas into designs that inspire action and resonate with your audience. We are your valuable partner in success.
