Paper surveys for not-for-profits and member organisations

Membership and stakeholder surveys often need to reach people who do not respond online. We manage the paper mode from scannable forms and agreed distribution through to verified data and linked form images.

Relevant experience: our work spans 25 not-for-profits and member organisations since 2007.

Organisation counts include identifiable end organisations where CDS performed the work through a research consultancy or other intermediary.

What member-based organisations need from a paper-mode partner

Recognisable, readable materials. Professional graphic design and specialist form layout bring your organisational branding together with the needs of your members and supporters. We consider type, contrast, instructions and answer space, and can follow supplied style and clear print guidelines. Invitations, questionnaires, information sheets and reminder materials can share a consistent visual approach, using your written content. Read about our form design and supporting artwork service.

Reach beyond the online channel. A paper option can sit beside your online survey, with a QR code and short link, or each member's own login, on the form, letter or instructions so each respondent can choose the mode that suits them.

Personalisation without losing control. We can print respondent IDs, names and addresses, barcodes and other variable information where required. Targeted reminder exclusions use the paper return, online completion and undeliverable records available at the agreed processing stage, including updates from your team.

Outputs you can reconcile. Returns can be reported daily or weekly during fieldwork, based on forms received by CDS and any return updates you provide. Responses still held by your organisation or sites are not automatically included. Final data is supplied with agreed column names and values, and each paper response can link directly to its full-page PDF image.

Lower bulk-mail rates. We use the applicable Australia Post bulk-mail service for each mailing. Eligible organisations may qualify for Charity Mail rates, while mailings of 4,000 or more items can often qualify for lower Promo Post rates where the mail is promotional. See our Australia Post postage options for details.

How the loop applies

You provide the questions, written content, any brand or accessibility requirements and any member or respondent list needed for personalisation. We develop the graphic design and specialist layout, set the form to Scantron specifications, proof it with you and arrange Australian printing.

We can mail packs individually through Australia Post or send materials in bulk to your organisation, branches or participating sites through Australia Post or other couriers. Completed forms can return directly to CDS, including by Reply Paid where arranged, or be collected by your team and forwarded in bulk. The outward and return methods do not have to match. We then scan and verify responses, key open-ended answers and deliver the agreed data files. See distribution and returns for the available combinations.

Typical projects

• Membership surveys
• Alumni surveys
• Supporter and stakeholder surveys
• Program and service evaluations
• Staff and volunteer surveys