Merkle/Domain to handle USA Swimming Foundation fundraising DM

The USA Swimming Foundation has named Merkle/Domain as its direct marketing agency of record.

The agency, which is part of Lanham, MD-based database marketing specialist Merkle Inc., competed against nine other shops to win the account. Ketchum was the ad consultant on the agency search.

Merkle/Domain said the three-year contract is the foundation's first attempt at direct marketing fundraising.

The Colorado Springs, CO-based foundation is the fundraising arm of USA Swimming, a nonprofit national governing body for swimming nationwide. USA Swimming offers programs and services on behalf of about 300,000 members.

Merkle/Domain's fundraising campaign goes live later in the spring. A more aggressive effort is planned for the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.