Expanding an existing relationship, the American Humane Association yesterday named Merkle Direct Marketing Inc., Lanham, MD, to handle direct mail donation processing for ongoing donor acquisition and renewal programs.
The services include opening and sorting of mail (also known as caging), cashiering and lockbox services as well as check encoding, electronic credit card processing, delivery of bank deposits, data capture and daily activity reporting.
Merkle's response services group will oversee the assignment.
A 33-year-old database marketing agency, Merkle has clients, including Dell Inc., DirecTV, Nationwide Insurance and the Arthritis Foundation. A key reason for the extra duties was Merkle's ability to help the Denver-based humane association reduce its reliance on print records by delivering images of transactions. This, in turn, will help response times with donors.
The association deals with professional education, training, advocacy, research and evaluation related to child and animal protection. It was founded in 1877 and has regional offices in Washington and Los Angeles.
