Direct Marketing Association

Two weeks ago, the heat index in New York City was 107 degrees. One would have thought the session I participated in with a finance executive and a bunch of fundraising executives would have been just that hot, right?

An executive from The Humane Society at Mobile Commerce Daily’s fourth annual Nonprofit Mobile Day said that as the nonprofit sees more than 30 percent of traffic coming from mobile devices, the company is taking a platform-agnostic approach to its Web content. The executive presented a look at the nonprofit’s mobile strategy during “The Humane Society of the United States: The Mobile Journey to Save Animals” session. The session also included a look at what the nonprofit has planned for the remainder of 2013.

The DMA Nonprofit Federation, through its Ethics Committee and its Advisory Council, has adopted new Fundraising Principles & Best Practices for Accountability in Fundraising. The DMANF asks its members to review the principles to ensure their adherence to the standards set forth in the document and when working with any third parties or agencies that provide fundraising support. The DMANF asks its members to hold themselves and the industry to the highest standards of accountability.

Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey (CCAH), a full-service direct marketing firm serving global nonprofit organizations, today announced direct marketing industry veteran Hilary Baar has joined the company as a Senior Strategist. Baar's addition will help support CCAH's continued growth and demonstrates the company's commitment to providing award-winning services and resources to its customers.

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.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the world’s largest trade association dedicated to advancing and protecting responsible data-driven marketing, is pleased to announce that Linda A. Woolley has taken the helm as DMA’s president and CEO, effective immediately. Woolley had served as DMA’s acting president and CEO since May 14, 2012.

The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) announced it is welcoming nominations for its prestigious 2013 Rising Stars and Corporate Commitment Awards. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 15. Winners will be announced in early March and honored at DMEF’s Rising Stars Awards Dinner June 11 in New York. Individual and corporate award recipients will be honored for their commitment to excellence in the field of direct/interactive marketing education, specifically highlighting service that nurtures and supports the next generation of talent in this field.

Fundraisers need to stop apologizing for spending money on more effective management and fundraising and, instead, educate people about the realities of how fundraising works.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) released its Quarterly Business Review (QBR) for the third quarter of 2012. DMA partnered with management consulting firm Winterberry Group on the report. Despite ongoing uncertainty about the fate of the economy and its potential impact on broader business opportunities, a vast majority of respondents to the third quarter 2012 Quarterly Business Review survey said they are confident about the practice of direct and digital marketing and its prospects for future growth.

One real reason renewal rates, retention rates and long-term loyalty stubbornly remain so abysmally low is because donor scepticism has been left to fester. What an opportunity.