2008-11-13 18:06:02 -
www.merkleinc.com - Merkle (www.merkleinc.com), one of the nation ? s largest and fastest growing database marketing agencies, announced that it received a new contract with longtime client Arthritis Foundation, the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world. Under the new contract, Merkle will serve as Agency of Record for the Atlanta-based nonprofit and will provide
a comprehensive array of services, including strategic insight, fundraising database management, processing and analytics, list support, creative development, printing and mailing response support, and interactive campaign support.
Chris Griffin, Group Vice President, Customer Relationship Marketing, Arthritis Foundation, said, ? Our relationship with Merkle is now entering its sixth year, and we attribute their close collaboration, expertise and guidance as a major reason why our overall fundraising program remains very strong, in spite of challenging economic times. Merkle has been instrumental in developing new integrated customer marketing strategies and using predictive modeling to help us more effectively target our acquisition and renewal fundraising campaigns and battle rising paper and postage costs. We consider Merkle to be a respected and trusted partner that is truly aligned with our key goals and success as a foundation. We are looking forward to building on our success in partnership with them in the months and years ahead. ?
According to Griffin, Merkle played a supporting role in the recent launch of a new program called Let ? s Move Together, which is a nationwide movement led by the Arthritis Foundation that encourages people to take action to prevent or treat arthritis every day. For the effort, Merkle provided the Arthritis Foundation with email creative development, email infrastructure and interactive support that helped generate awareness among its donors and online constituents.
Merkle first began working with Arthritis Foundation in 2003, when it won a multi-year contract after an extensive agency search involving more than 50 agencies and service providers. In 2005, Merkle helped launch a successful mid-level donor program that uses specialized integrated customer marketing strategies and leverages the Foundation ? s national chapter structure to dramatically increase retention rates and overall revenue from its most loyal supporters.
In addition, Merkle has provided marketing support for the Arthritis Foundation ? s annual Arthritis WalkSM, a series of events held throughout the U.S. to increase funding and awareness of arthritis. Merkle currently supports the nonprofit ? s Hope Through HeroesSM initiative, a program in which individuals set up websites dedicated to friends and family whose lives have been affected by arthritis or chronic joint symptoms.
Carter Wade, Vice President, Fundraising Group Director, Merkle, said, ? We are extremely honored and pleased that Arthritis Foundation made the decision to renew, and we are looking forward to helping them further their goal of improving the lives of those affected by the disease. During the past several years, Arthritis Foundation has experienced positive results by actively engaging its mid-level donors and adopting other approaches that involve events and the Internet. We are excited to continue working alongside Arthritis Foundation to develop innovative ideas and build on past achievements. ?
About Merkle
Merkle is one of the nation ? s largest and fastest growing providers of data-driven marketing solutions that enable organizations to maximize the results from their marketing investment. Merkle provides strategic consulting, database services, content solutions, analytical services, interactive and creative services, and production services to Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations. With more than 1,100 employees, the privately held corporation is headquartered near Baltimore in Columbia, Maryland with additional locations in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Seattle and Hagerstown, Maryland. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-MERKLE or visit
www.merkleinc.com.
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