Who We Are

For over 15 years, Direct Advantage Marketing has provided telefundraising services for cultural, political, and environmental organizations. We provide expertise in all areas of fundraising and membership campaigns. Whether guiding an existing membership program to improved production or appealing to donors for additional support, we are committed to achieving excellence in service and results. Direct Advantage has helped more than 100 clients raise millions of dollars in new and increased revenue.

Direct Advantage Marketing is known throughout the industry as a company that achieves results with integrity. By maintaining our standards of quality, we preserve our clients' integrity with both prospects and donors.

Overview

Direct Advantage Marketing was founded 15 years ago by Jay Fairbrother, a young man with a dream, a phone, and list of prospects. We have been consistently recognized as one of the fastest-growing small businesses in the Pittsburgh area. When the company started, there were just ten callers. As of May 2004, we have over 180 callers, 74 calling stations, and 25 Administrative staff members. In 2003, in a statewide, employee poll conducted by the Central Penn Business Journal and the state of Pennsylvania, we were voted the second best place in the state to work (http://www.bestplacestoworkinpa.com).

In December 2003, Integrated Fundraising & Marketing Solutions, Inc., (IFMS) acquired Direct Advantage. Being part of a better-capitalized company is of enormous value as we continue to respond to the ever-changing fundraising landscape.

Organization

Client Services

Lisa Drane, Vice President of Client Services, has over 14 years of experience in fundraising program management in the non-profit world. Lisa leads our client services and operations efforts and manages client accounts on a daily basis with the support of Mary Ann Gamble, Senior Director of Client Services.

Sheila Hollums, Vice President of the Call Center, oversees the entire calling floor, which includes all of the campaign managers and callers. She has eight years of call center management experience.

Capabilities

Campaign Support: State-of-the-art EIS predictive-dialing equipment is available at 74 caller workstations. Callers’ computer screens can be customized to include as much relevant data and contributor information as required by the campaign. On Major Donor campaigns, the calling is conducted in a preview-dialing environment to ensure that the caller can absorb as much information about the donor before the call is placed. Campaigns are generally called both during daylight and evening hours, with variances in the specific time of day or evening.

Computer Capability: Direct Advantage is known for its ability to meet all client reporting and uploading needs whenever possible. Daily campaign reports sent to clients include results from the previous day as well as project-to-date summaries. We generally transmit and receive data files by email or through an FTP site. DAM-designed formats for all incoming data and fulfillment files are available to our clients but we are able to accept data in any format.

Daily and Post-Campaign Reporting and Analysis: Daily performance reports and segmentation statistics are sent to clients by e-mail or fax and a follow-up analysis can be done by telephone or email. We have the ability to segment campaigns based on pre-selected criteria in ten different ways for optimum analysis. Post-campaign reporting is available for all criteria established prior to the start of a campaign. For unanticipated post-campaign analysis, customized reports can be created.

Script Development: Direct Advantage Marketing takes pride in its ability to create, test, and implement effective scripting that is customized for each client and each campaign. We excel at Major Donor, Capital, Planned Giving, Sustainer Invitation, and Special Appeal campaigns, as well as upgrading donors’ previous giving levels. We use thoroughly tested ask strings and we consistently deliver the highest credit card results in the industry.

Letters: Personalized follow-up letters are drafted for client approval before the start of any campaign. A letter, containing actual donor information, is faxed to the client for final approval after the first day of calling. Pledge reminder schedules are established at the beginning of each campaign and driven by software designed to prompt the Fulfillment Coordinator as to when reminder files are due from the client.