American Cancer Society

Why convert? And to what end? To quote Tom Harrison, Russ Reid CEO, why are nonprofits mad at about 50 percent of their donors at any given time for donating in the “wrong” way?

In its attempts at conversion, the sector either makes too many assumptions or too few and too many attempts to convert the wrong donors to the wrong something and not enough trying to convert the right ones to a convertible something.

Not many organizations have been brazen enough to try to substantially reduce their direct-mail output. But the American Cancer Society is doing just that. The organization embarked recently on a huge, bold move to halt direct-mail acquisition and conversion efforts in a strategy designed to free up donated funds to bolster its multichannel fundraising efforts.

The American Cancer Society has decided to halt direct mail acquisition and direct mail conversion, and ACS will be sharing its experience with Angie Moore and FundRaising Success.

The decision is about much more than just direct mail. It is rooted in the decision to change how the Society views donor dollars, the donor experience with its overall iconic brand, and perhaps most importantly, how it drives a greater sense of urgency around its mission.

I spent the first day of spring 2013 fast-walking Capitol Hill with foundation colleagues from all across the country. Hundreds of us were there for Foundations on the Hill, philanthropy's annual push to remind lawmakers why giving matters. In brief encounters with our elected officials and their staff, we tried to connect the dots between their priorities and ours. We reminded them of the essential work our grantees are doing every day to make communities better, to make our nation stronger and more just.

Independent Sector and eight other groups asked a powerful congressional committee Tuesday to preserve discount postage rates for nonprofits as it drafts legislation to change how the U.S. Postal Service works.

The Postal Reform Act of 2011 had proposed eliminating the nonprofit discount, which cost the postal service about $1.3-billion in 2011. The provision was removed last year during congressional negotiations, but the comprehensive postal bill died. It is expected to be considered again this year by the new Congress.

The Nonprofit Federation of the Direct Marketing Association (DMANF) is pleased to announce the selection of Lynn Edmonds, president of LW Robbins, as its 2013 Max L. Hart Nonprofit Achievement Award recipient. The Max L. Hart Nonprofit Achievement Award, presented annually at the Washington Nonprofit Conference, recognizes career accomplishments by an exceptional fundraising professional with a track record of service, leadership, innovation and integrity.

Lynn S. Edmonds, president of LW Robbins, a direct marketing fundraising agency, has been named the 2012 Direct Marketing Fundraising Association (DMFA) Marketer of the Year.

Thousands of Americans have reached out to victims of Hurricane Sandy, and many are looking for ways to include their children. That kind of thinking is already bearing fruit, from the Point Pleasant, N.J., high school football players who are clearing out their neighbors' flood-damaged furniture to the kids of St. Ann School in Bridgeport, Conn., doing their part by setting up a hot cocoa stand.

Experts say schoolkids' charitable initiatives spike after national disasters such as Sandy. And the lessons learned can stay with children for a lifetime.

At the 2012 Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference last month, three fundraising professionals shared essential leadership skills every major gifts team should have.