How CCDFI Combined Digital Gifting, Physical Tree Kits, and Real Reforestation
Clearinghouse CDFI was looking for an end-of-year gift that felt intentional, meaningful, and aligned with their values. They wanted something their employees and partners would actually remember, not another item that would end up in a drawer.
They also had a clear goal. The gift needed to feel premium, meet their internal budget expectations, and create real environmental impact.
That’s when they partnered with ForestNation.
The Challenge
CCDFI wanted to move beyond traditional corporate gifting. Their vision was to create a journey, not just send a package.
They were drawn to the idea of combining a digital Gift Story with a physical Tree Kit, where recipients would first receive a message explaining the impact, and then actively claim their gift. This would make the experience feel more personal and more engaging.
At the same time, the campaign came with complexity.
CCDFI needed:
- A fully branded digital experience
- A smooth claim flow for physical gifts
- A premium feel for recipients
- Coordination across multiple moving parts
- Flexibility when challenges appeared
This was not a plug-and-play order. It required customization, internal development work, and close collaboration between both teams.
The Solution
ForestNation worked closely with CCDFI to design a hybrid gifting campaign that brought everything together.
The experience started with Gift Stories sent from CCDFI’s Forest, allowing recipients to learn about the initiative and see the real trees being planted. From there, recipients could claim their physical Tree Kit, turning the gift into an action, not just an object.
To support CCDFI’s vision, ForestNation:
- Built a customized forest profile and Gift Story experience
- Configured a clear, branded claim flow for recipients
- Offered multiple campaign options to balance impact, experience, and internal constraints
- Adapted fulfillment workflows to accommodate externally sourced materials that needed to be integrated with the Tree Kits
While CCDFI sourced additional physical components separately, ForestNation handled the complexity of receiving, assembling, protecting, and shipping the final gifts once claims were made. This required extra care, coordination, and hands-on work to ensure every recipient received a complete and intact gift.
Throughout the process, both teams worked side by side to adjust, refine, and move forward.
The Results
The campaign delivered a gifting experience that felt thoughtful and human.
Recipients didn’t just receive a package. They:
- Discovered CCDFI’s message through a digital Gift Story
- Visited CCDFI’s Forest profile to understand the impact
- Actively claimed their Tree Kit
- Received a physical gift connected to real reforestation work
When challenges arose after launch, ForestNation and CCDFI worked together to resolve them quickly. Follow-ups were coordinated, issues were addressed without friction, and recipients were supported through the process.
Behind the scenes, the campaign required flexibility, teamwork, and problem-solving. What recipients experienced was simple. What made it work was anything but.
CCDFI’s forest now stands as a living record of the initiative, showing the trees planted and the collective impact created through the campaign.
Takeaway
This campaign shows what’s possible when a client has a clear vision and a partner willing to meet it.
CCDFI’s holiday gift was not defined by a single product. It was defined by the experience, the collaboration, and the ability to bring many elements together into one coherent story.
ForestNation’s role was not just to supply Tree Kits, but to support the full journey, from digital storytelling to fulfillment, from planning through post-launch support.
🌱 If you can imagine it, we can help you build it.