CDR Fundraising Group

As announced last week, Jo Black Sullivan, who has served at the ASPCA for a decade — most recently as executive vice president of external affairs — has accepted a position with CDR Fundraising Group as senior director of integrated marketing and manager of direct-response television. We had a chance to catch up with her last week and to talk about what she'll be doing at CDR, keys to her successes at ASPCA and what she believes the future holds for the nonprofit sector.

BOWIE, MD, September 15, 2009 —  CDR Fundraising Group today announced the hiring of Jo Black Sullivan as their new senior director of integrated marketing and manager of direct response television(DRTV).  In this newly-created position, Sullivan will focus on the strategic expansion of CDR’s services.  Sullivan comes to CDR Fundraising Group from a decade-long tenure at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), where she most recently served as executive vice president of external affairs.

June 19, 2009 — The DMA Nonprofit Federation is pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2009, Susan M. Loth, director of fundraising, Disabled American Veterans, will serve as Chairman and Geoffrey W. Peters, president, CDR Fundraising Group, will serve as Vice-Chairman of the Nonprofit Federation's Advisory Council. 

BOWIE, MD, April 14, 2009 — Geoffrey W. Peters, president and CEO, is saddened to announce that Raymond Grace, founder of CDR Fundraising Group, passed away from complications related to cancer early this morning, April 14, 2009.

To: Geoff Peters
I enjoyed your article in FundRaising Success (“Fundraising and the Economy,” January). Couldn’t have come out at a better time. Your explanation of the two most vulnerable channels is insightful, and your multichannel point is right on target.

Aside from looming postal issues, the future of direct mail looks increasingly bright because of an inevitable massive expansion of your prime audience. It is well-known that among the various fundraising channels, direct mail appeals mostly to the oldest demographic. Your files typically have a median donor age of mid-70s.

Whenever the economy enters a recession, parts of the fundraising industry and much of the commercial industry enter “crisis mode.” The two most vulnerable giving channels are probably 1) corporate donors, sponsors and partners (particularly among corporations hit hardest by the recession) and 2) foundations, because their assets have decreased so significantly.

A U.S. Marine in his dress blues remains stone-faced as a young boy looks up and asks him if he’s Santa Claus. “Heard you might be him,” the boy says. “If you are him, here’s my list.” Finally, the serviceman acknowledges the boy, opening his white-gloved hand to take the list. Walking away, the boy says, “He is Santa Claus.” That public service announcement for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has been melting hearts and opening wallets for 10 years, continuing the tradition that has allowed the 60-year-old organization to bring more than 386 million shiny, new toys to

Understanding what a brand is, why it’s important and how to create, change or evaluate the success of it is vital for every organization. In his session, “How to Brand Your Organization,” at the Bridge Conference in Washington, D.C., last week, Joel Zimmerman, director of consulting services at CDR Fundraising Group, a provider of integrated fundraising services, walked attendees through the ins and outs of branding. Zimmerman first looked at what a brand is, describing it as the stereotypical reaction people have to your organization. A brand evokes information (what do I know about them?), emotion (do I like them?) and expectations (should I