President’s Message for August

How do you choose the right direct mail agency? The current reality is that we are operating in a much more integrated direct response fundraising world (as seen through our Next Gen report) and that means we need to be very careful about who we choose to run our direct mail programs.

Direct mail is still often the fundraising foundation for many organizations BUT more and more they need to be seamlessly connected to the telephone, online, mobile, planned giving, major gifts and every which way a donor gives. Siloed programs are no longer affordable.

Over the last few months we’ve been helping a US national health charity choose a new direct mail fundraising firm by: a) using our 20+ years of integrated partnering with over a dozen DM firms to help choose the prospective candidates, b) crafting an RFP process that will evaluate and shake out those direct mail firms who haven’t transitioned to a more integrated fundraising reality, and then finally, c) creating a scoring system that helps the nonprofit clearly, and accurately, access who is the direct mail firm who can help them in a more integrated fundraising environment.

It’s worked amazingly well and the client has been grateful at how we’ve simplified a complicated process. If you think hjc can help you choose the right direct mail firm for your 21st century journey in fundraising, drop me a line.