DMA Members Join in Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

January 14, 2010 — The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and the DMA Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) are deeply saddened by the destruction and loss of life caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti. News reports indicate efforts are already underway to help the survivors and many DMA Nonprofit members are part of the efforts.

The DMANF will be keeping a list of organizations who are involved in relief efforts along with their contact information. Over the next few days you’ll be able to find a list of these organizations at www.nonprofitfederation.org to learn how you can help.

As a general rule, when choosing a charity, DMANF suggests donors ask themselves the following questions: With so many good causes to choose from, donors wonder what they should look for when they decide to give this year. In seeking to choose a charity, the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) suggests donors ask themselves the following questions:

· Does this charity work on a cause that’s near and dear to my heart?

· Does this charity have a way to demonstrate its program successes?

· What resources are devoted to its programs?

· Does it adhere to ethical standards and transparency? All members of the DMANF must adhere to DMA’s ethical guidelines which included fundraising best practices. Is the charity a member of the DMA?

DMANF also suggests:

· Donors should make donations by check, credit card or on-line.

· Look at the organization’s annual report or website to understand what they are actually accomplishing.

· Check out a charity by volunteering or visiting their staff or offering to provide a service to them.

For more information, please visit www.nonprofitfederation.org.

About Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

The Direct Marketing Association (www.the-dma.org) is the leading global trade association of businesses and nonprofit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques. DMA advocates standards for responsible marketing, promotes relevance as the key to reaching consumers with desirable offers, and provides cutting-edge research, education, and networking opportunities to improve results throughout the end-to-end direct marketing process. Founded in 1917, DMA today represents more than 3,100 companies from dozens of vertical industries in the US and 48 other nations, including nearly half of the Fortune 100 companies, as well as nonprofit organizations.

About the Nonprofit Federation of the DMA

The Nonprofit Federation of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is the leading association for nonprofit organizations that use direct marketing channels such as mail, Internet, email, telephone, and social networking to gain support from individual donors. For more than 25 years, the Nonprofit Federation (and its predecessor organizations) has served as an effective advocate for nonprofits both in Washington, DC and in all 50 states regarding postal rates and delivery service, data protection, fundraising accountability, and other legislative and regulatory issues that affect nonprofit fundraising. It also leads the way in professional education, market intelligence, and networking for its more than 400 member organizations. In 2007, Americans gave $229 billion to nonprofit organizations; the majority of those donations were the result of direct marketing. For additional information on the Nonprofit Federation, its work, and its member benefits, visit www.nonprofitfederation.org.

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