   |
|
|
|
|
| Arthritis Foundation Selects Merkle for Database and Direct Marketing
LANHAM, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2003-- -- Merkle's Fundraising Services Group to Provide Complete Range of Strategic Consulting Services to National Nonprofit -- BizVantage – Like a personalized newsletter for business, investment or technology. Merkle Direct Marketing, Inc. (www.merklenet.com), a leading provider of information-based database marketing services, announced that it has been selected by the national nonprofit voluntary health agency, The Arthritis Foundation, to provide a full range of direct marketing services. As part of a three-year agreement, Merkle's Fundraising Services Group will help The Arthritis Foundation to increase its membership numbers and donor contributions via direct marketing support, including strategic consulting, custom database development, copywriting and creative work, program execution and analytic evaluation. Merkle began working this month with The Arthritis Foundation, which made its decision after an extensive nine-month search and bidding process that involved more than 60 highly qualified competing database marketing and advertising agencies. "We selected Merkle over other direct marketing companies because of the company's depth of experience with nonprofit organizations, strategic approach, and its ability to handle all aspects of our direct outreach campaigns with a special focus on database marketing," said Becky Burkett, chief development officer at The Arthritis Foundation. "Merkle is currently working with our organization to develop a targeted program that will help us to effectively engage current and potential members and donors." To develop a custom solution for The Arthritis Foundation, Merkle's Fundraising Services Group has already kicked off its Strategic Engagement Process with the nonprofit. The resulting direct mail campaigns developed from this process are scheduled to begin in late 2003. "We are extremely pleased to be selected by The Arthritis Foundation, a widely respected fundraising organization, and we are looking forward to building on their already impressive donor outreach program," said Merkle's President and CEO, David Williams. "We now are working closely with The Arthritis Foundation to determine its needs and develop a very detailed, strategic plan to meet the organization's objectives in member and donor acquisitions." In helping The Arthritis Foundation meet its objectives, Merkle will utilize its exclusive Fundraising Knowledge Center, a comprehensive database marketing solution that supports the critical areas of successful direct-response campaign management. Using the Fundraising Knowledge Center, Merkle will create, execute and analyze the results of The Arthritis Foundation's membership and donor campaigns. About The Arthritis Foundation Founded in 1948, The Arthritis Foundation is the only national, voluntary health agency seeking the causes, cures, preventions and treatments for the more than 100 forms of arthritis. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, The Foundation has 150 chapters and service points nationwide to provide community-based programs and to raise funds. For more information, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 800-283-7800 or www.arthritis.org. About Merkle Headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, Merkle Direct Marketing, Inc. has delivered high-quality information-based database marketing services to clients across the United States for more than 30 years. By applying database marketing strategies and unparalleled database infrastructure to direct marketing programs, the company enables its clients to close the gap between marketing strategy and implementation, which can lead to significant improvements in new customer acquisition, customer retention, maximization and profitability. The company's services and solutions include strategic consulting, business intelligence, marketing knowledge center development and maintenance, analytical services, data products, list processing, mail production and response processing services. A privately held corporation, the company has over 700 employees and approximately 300 clients. For additional information, contact Merkle at 301-459-9700, or visit: www.merklenet.com.
|
