The-Latest

Announcing TLC’s June Year of Service Project

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:45:00 GMT

The past five months of the Year of Service have been leading up to this – our biggest and most challenging project, yet! In June TLC staff from both coasts will meet in Denver to join Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado on their two-day Midland Hill Trail Restoration project. One of the most popular trails in Arkansas River Valley, Midland Hill Trail is about a hundred miles south-west of Denver near beautiful Buena Vista. Rain storms in the valley cause severe erosion on the area’s natural surface trails, so regular maintenance is necessary.

Volunteers will spend the weekend of June 9 camping in the great outdoors while restoring this popular trail in order to provide a safe and sustainable route for trail users. Work will involve repairing trail drains, constructing walk retaining walls and installing new rock steps. It will be hard work, but this project is set in one of the most scenic areas of the Colorado mountainside and there will be plenty of time for fun around the campfire and relaxation in the nearby hot springs.

Up for joining TLC on this adventure? Contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231.

TLC Spends Quality Time with Arlington’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:42:00 GMT

We’re big-time animal lovers at TLC, and our May Year of Service project allowed us to get up close and personal with some adorable cats and dogs! In fact, several of our staff members have actually adopted their furry family members from this month’s featured organization, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation. After volunteering at two adoption events with this wonderful group, it’s easy for all of us to see why.

Founded in 2001, Lost Dog rescues abandoned or displaced dogs and cats from the threat of euthanasia at area shelters or other at-risk situations. Animals are then fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered before being taken to the Foundation’s 61-acre ranch in Sumerduck, VA where they await placement in permanent homes. Since 2001, Lost Dog has helped over 17,000 dogs and cats find new homes.

TLC staff volunteered at two weekend adoption events at the Alexandria PetSmart this month. Volunteers were each paired with one dog and for three hours our job was to introduce these sweet dogs and puppies to potential new owners. In between visits, we played with our dogs and gave lots of love. All of the volunteers agreed it was great therapy to spend some quality time with these guys. In fact, a handful of TLC staff hope to become regular volunteers.

“I adopted my dog Bali from Lost Dog, so I was happy to have a chance to give back to the organization in this way,” said Non-Profit List Manager, Samantha Merz. “It was sad to see that the dogs that didn’t find a new home go back to the Lost Dog ranch, but it helps to know they’re in wonderful hands and I don’t doubt it will be long until they find their forever home!”

Many thanks to everyone who came out to help at the adoption events, including Amy Willis (The Campagna Center), Carol Craig (Strategic Marketing & Mailing), Dave DeSalvo (RHA Marketing) and Dick Hoffman (Corp Press).

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, or to make a gift, contact Lost Dog at info@lostdogrescue.org.

TLC Pulse / 05.17.12

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:55:00 GMT

The USPS announced plans today to move ahead with a modified plan to consolidate its network of 461 mail processing locations in phases, the first of which will consolidate 140 locations in February 2013.
Bloomberg Businessweek wrote this week about how integrating all marketing channels can help brands combat the common problem of a fragmented message. We couldn’t agree more!
Facebook might be big topic of conversation on Wall Street these days, but their effectiveness as a digital marketing vehicle is inefficient compared to Google, according to a study by search marketing management company, WordStream. The average click-through rate for a Facebook ad is 0.051 percent, compared to Google 0.4 CTR.

TLC Pulse / 05.09.12

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:14:00 GMT

The latest Federal Register confirms that beginning January 28, 2013, an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) will be required on automated letters and flats and doe Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM). That means your organization should be sure to use up any old reply envelopes with the old POSTNET barcodes!
Blackbaud’s Netwits Think Tank urges arts and cultural organizations in particular to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon, not only due to the rapidly growing trend, but also because arts organizations have images readably available, their supporters are likely Pinterest users and the search categories easily suit their mission.
KissMetrics created a list of tips to increase conversion on your website. Some you might recognize from our recent Whitepaper “Turning Clicks into Conversions” (for example, use short forms and test everything!), but one new one we liked is so simple – make your call to action crystal clear.
As we anxiously await the opening of The Barnes Foundation’s new location on May 19, Vogue offers an exclusive first look inside! Follow all the latest news of the opening on The Barnes’ Facebook page.

TLC Names Seth Colton Director of Political Services

Fri, 04 May 2012 20:20:00 GMT

The Lukens Company recently announced the promotion of Seth Colton to Director of Political Services.

Seth, who graduated from Marietta College in Ohio with a dual degree in Political Science and International Business, has been with The Lukens Company since 2007.

Most recently, he served as a Director of Major Accounts, including long-standing clients such as the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Susan B. Anthony List and the Republican National Committee. He also played a pivotal role for some of TLC’s top accounts including the Indiana Senate Majority Campaign Committee, Tommy Thompson for Senate, and dozens of highly targeted, integrated voter contact campaigns across the country. For his creative acumen, Seth has received multiple Pollie, Reed and Maxi Awards.

In this expanded role at TLC, Seth will be responsible for overseeing strategy, creative and marketing efforts across the political division, including multi-channel voter contact and fundraising efforts.

“Seth Colton has been an instrumental part of the Company’s continued growth in the political arena. He is being promoted to Director of Political Services in recognition of the superb job he’s done directing efforts internally and for our clients,” said TLC Executive Vice President John Schaller. “Seth possesses a calm and steady leadership style that complements his unparalleled work ethic and commitment to our Republican candidates and causes. His increased role in the leadership of our company is a critical component to our success moving forward.”

Congratulation, Seth!

TLC Pulse / 05.02.12

Wed, 02 May 2012 21:53:00 GMT

The Washington Post reports that the Senate approved U.S. Postal Service reforms last week. The bipartisan measure would permit the end of Saturday mail delivery in two years and it also modifies mail service standards to preserve overnight mail delivery to nearby communities, but at the same time allows the USPS to slow mail delivery to further destinations.
Of course junk mail and nonprofit direct mail campaigns are completely different, but nonetheless, as direct marketers, we found The Atlantic’s list of cities that really hate junk mail interesting. Topping the list? Seattle.
Consumersearch.com released a list of the top 20 most expensive museums. We love their tip for getting in the door cheaper – annual membership brings admission down dramatically!

Announcing TLC’s May Year of Service Project

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:39:00 GMT

After a few months on the road, we look forward to keeping it local on our May Year of Service project. Next month we’ll partner with the Arlington’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at two weekend adoption events. Lost Dog rescues abandoned or displaced dogs and cats from the threat of euthanasia in over-crowded shelters or other at-risk situations and places them for adoption into loving homes. We can’t wait to show some love to the dogs and cats in need of a home!

Staff and TLC friends will volunteer for Lost Dog at the Alexandria Hybla Valley PetSmart on Sunday, May 6 from 1-4pm and Sunday, May 20 from 1-4pm. We will help run the adoption events and hopefully find new homes for many of the dogs and cats. Clients and other friends in the area have the opportunity to join us for either date.

To join us, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231. We hope to see you there!

Spotlight: Joe Richards

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:00:00 GMT

This month’s TLC Spotlight is on Joe Richards, Account Assistant for TLC’s political team.

A graduate of Rhode Island’s Providence College School of Business, Joe’s longtime interest in politics inspired him to work on Fred Thompson’s Presidential Campaign in 2008. After three years working in the Compensation and Benefits Department at American Institutes for Research, Joe decided to make a return to political fundraising and he joined TLC in March 2011. Recently Google AdWords certified, Joe looks forward to helping his clients integrate new online strategies during the upcoming election season.

Now on to the fun questions…

Five words that best describe you: Fun, caring, honest, perseverant and passionate.
What clubs or sports teams did you participate in high school? I played Rugby throughout high school.
What’s your favorite sports team? The Dallas Cowboys. I was born in Dallas and lived there for during a few Super Bowl wins, so that helped solidify my allegiance. Unfortunately, it’s been rough going ever since then!
List five websites you visit most: NFL.com, Drudge Report.com, IMDB.com, ESPN.com and YouTube.
What brought you to the DC area? My family moved to Maryland from Texas when I was young and I went to grade school and high school in DC. I went to college in Rhode Island and wanted to move back to the DC area for work.
What organizations do you support? I am a big supporter for the Make a Wish Foundation. I am also training and raising money for the Marine Corps Marathon, which supports a lot of great causes, including Make a Wish.
Describe your perfect Saturday. It would consist of grilling and sitting outside with friends in 85 degree weather.
What book is currently on your nightstand? The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You, which was recommend by Matt Seney (TLC’s Digital Account Executive).
Tell us – what’s on your iPod? Bruce Springsteen, Hootie and the Blowfish and a variety of country artists.
What is your favorite TV show? Currently, I am a big fan of Breaking Bad on AMC. I also loved Arrested Development and pumped for the new episodes to come out next year.
Share one to-do that ranks high on your “bucket list”. I’d love to go skydiving.
What’s your favorite local lunch spot? The Weenie Beenie – but we only go there on special occasions.
Why do you work at TLC? I really enjoy the people I work with and love the goals TLC sets for it clients and employees.

TLC’s Year of Service Volunteers with Philabundance

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:28:00 GMT

We’re now four months into our Year of Service, and while we’ve had our fair share of pleasant surprises along our volunteer project stops, nothing could have prepared us for the massive food distribution operation we walked into when visiting Philadelphia’s Philabundance on April 20. Set in South Philly, the Philabundance warehouse is over 25,000 square feet and houses the organization’s main offices and warehouse. Here, Philabundance processes more than 21 million pounds of food annually and redistributes it to 65,000 locals in need per week. After our own firsthand experience with this well-oiled organization, it’s easy to understand how Philabundance is able to have such an incredible impact on their community.

On our morning shift, volunteers helped box a huge delivery of bread for distribution through the organization’s Community Food Center (CFC). The CFC is Philabundance’s choice-model hybrid food pantry where participants choose from available items rather than receiving a pre-packaged box of food. This promotes a stronger sense of dignity for participants and also ensures that people choose items they will actually eat. In less than three hours, TLC staff and friends from ICS Corporation, a printer that TLC regularly partners with in Philadelphia, helped box over 6,000 pounds of bread to be redistributed through the CFC.

After a short break (and refueling courtesy of a local pizza joint!), the afternoon shift took volunteers onto the main floor of the warehouse where they sorted food donated through community food drives. After adjusting to the pace of the conveyor belt (and a brief flash of that classic I Love Lucy episode), we found our stride and helped process over 107,000 pounds of food!

“I was amazed by the amount of food that is processed at just the main Philabundance warehouse,” TLC Account Executive, Marie Kosanovich commented. “But the thought that there were people who would still go hungry after all that food was distributed definitely made me think twice about the food I take for granted.”

A special thanks to Dave and Sean from ICS Corporation for volunteering with us at Philabundance.

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Philabundance, to make a gift, or to organize a food drive, contact Jan Barnett, Volunteer Program Coordinator, at 215-339-0900 x 1651 or jbarnett@philabundance.org.

TLC Pulse / 04.19.12

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:34:00 GMT

Chronicle of Philanthropy wrote recently about nonprofits going mobile and the first recommendation was to use the website http://www.mobilephoneemulator.com/ to determine how your organization’s website appears in different mobile formats. From there, your organization’s first priority should be making your website mobile-friendly – not necessarily creating an app.
To further illustrate the importance of a mobile-friendly presence, internetretailer.com shared a report from mobile marketer, Knotice, which reveals 27% of marketing emails are opened on mobile devices.
Google proposed a new metric that it hopes will become the online advertising industry standard. “Active View” would count a viewed impression that “is at least 50% viewable on the screen for at least one second”. Would a new standard convince your organization to invest more in online advertising?

One Week, Two Conferences, Infinite Inspiration

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:54:00 GMT

San Francisco played host to two huge conferences last week and The Lukens Company attended both – the NonProfit Technology Conference and ad:tech. NTEN is the biggest tech conference for nonprofits and it always attracts industry leaders looking to share innovating ideas. ad:tech is an international digital marketing conference that attracts big names in the corporate world – but of course the beauty of online marketing is that it’s a cost effective solution, so we stay on top of these trends for our nonprofit clients!

Weren’t able to attend either conference? Read below for our key takeaways and favorite sessions:

Angela Struebing, Vice President of Client Services

This was my third year attending NTEN. As multichannel campaigns become the norm, there are a lot more resources available to reference for benchmarks, industry best practices and case studies. I’d say one of my favorite sessions was hearing about the Children’s National Hospital Valentine’s Day campaign and the power of going viral with a simple concept.

Kojo Duncan, Director of Online Services

The NTEN session I enjoyed most was the power of video as a storytelling and engagement tool. Video can be intimidating for organizations that have never tried to use it in their overall engagement/fundraising strategy, but this video titled “Yes, That’s My Father”, which was produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, shows how easy it is to use video as an engagement device. I was very moved by it and, if they had included it in a fundraising ask, I would have donated.

Matt Seney, Digital Marketing Executive
I really enjoyed this year’s ad:tech conference. There were a lot of great keynote speeches and breakout sessions on demand side platforms and managing ROI. For me, the main takeaway wasn’t so much learning something new, but rather a reaffirmation on what TLC does in the digital space with regard to direct response marketing.

Lauren Gordon, Account Manager

Two of my favorite sessions at ad:tech were the Think with Google sponsored presentation “Uncovering Opportunities with Marketing Attribution” and an informative talk on “Measuring Digital ROI.” The sessions were very applicable to the campaigns we develop at The Lukens Company, and I’m looking forward to incorporating some of these new insights into my daily work! Marketers were also buzzing about attribution modeling – one of the big future trends for analytics where multiple touch points are credited along the path to conversion, as opposed to focusing on the last-click model.

TLC Pulse / 04.10.12

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:55:00 GMT

NTEN released its 2012 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study last week (abridged version in infographic form here). One notable finding is the online giving grew 20% from 2010 to 2011 – how does your organization stack up?
Target Marketing wrote about the bright side of impending USPS changes, including our favorite bit of advice – take advantage of the free second ounce for First Class mail.
The Google Art Project added 134 museums to its site last week including a handful of TLC clients – the Art Institute of Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Museum of Fine Arts Houston. The virtual gallery of 30,000 pieces of artwork allows visitors to get closer than ever to some of the world’s most famed pieces. A similar venture, WikiPaintings, is now in Beta.

TLC Spotlight: Tiffany Delgado, Account Manager

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:55:00 GMT

This month’s TLC Spotlight is on Tiffany Delgado, Account Manager on the east coast.

Tiffany started at TLC in September 2009 shortly after graduating from the University of Virginia, where she double majored in economics and art history. She previously interned for a financial advisor at Citi Smith Barney. When Tiffany first came on board at TLC, she worked in TLC’s political department, but she later moved to our arts and cultural side of the house out of interest in using her art history background to help our nonprofit clients. Today Tiffany helps to raise buckets of money for TLC clients like The Barnes Foundation, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Boston Symphony Orchestra!

Let's get to know Tiffany a little better, shall we?

Five words that best describe you: Well, I would say that I’m energetic, tireless, articulate, meticulous, and fun!
What clubs or sports teams did you participate in in high school? I was on the dance Team and I played varsity lacrosse. I was also a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and Keyette Service Club.
What’s your favorite sports team? I have a pink Phillies t-shirt… does that qualify me as a fan? Honestly, I’m not really into sports, but I do hang out at Lucky Bar (a sports bar in Dupont) and watch Champions League on the weekends.
List five websites you visit most: New York Times, Fox News, CNN, Facebook and Unabashedly Prep (a style blog).
What brought you to the DC area? I grew up in McLean, VA and have lived here all my life.
What organizations do you support? I am the Account Manager for TLC’s pro bono client, The Campagna Center and I’ve been especially dedicated to their mission of educating young children in the Alexandria area.
Describe your perfect Saturday. It must be summer. I would sleep in, visit the National Gallery of Art, stroll around Georgetown, have a major shopping spree at Sherman Pickey, eat lobster rolls, and have a night out with my friends at Mr. Smith’s.
What book is currently on your nightstand? The Tipping Point, Omnivore’s Dilemma, Catcher in the Rye, Life of Pi, and Pride and Prejudice.
What is your favorite TV show? Definitely Seinfeld. It is my belief that all life’s questions can be answered by a Seinfeld episode; also, I am the female version of George Constanza.
Share one to-do that ranks high on your “bucket list”. I’d love to visit the Louvre and the Musée D’Orsay.
What’s your favorite local lunch spot? I don’t often get away from my desk during lunch, but you can find me at Founding Farmer’s for Sunday brunch!
Why do you work at TLC? I work at TLC because I love working for my clients and raising money for great organizations!

Announcing TLC’s April Year of Service Project

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:19:00 GMT

TLC heads to the land of cheese steaks and brotherly love in April to partner with the region’s largest organization in fighting hunger. Philabundance was founded in 1984 with the belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry. Today the organization helps provide hunger relief through direct service programs, food cupboards, emergency kitchens, shelters, daycare and senior centers.

Staff and TLC friends will volunteer at Philabundance’s Hunger Relief Center in South Philadelphia on Friday, April 20. We will assist staff with sorting and preparing food boxes for local seniors in need. Clients and other friends in the area have the opportunity to join us for either one or both shifts – 8:30-12pm and/or 12:30-3:30pm.

To join us, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231. We hope to see lots of familiar faces with us in April!

TLC’s Year of Service Partners with New York’s Materials for the Arts

Wed, 23 May 2012 19:38:00 GMT

TLC staff and friends were warmly greeted with fresh bagels, a delicious pecan ring from Carlo’s Bake Shop (of TLC’s show Cake Boss) and smiles when they arrived at Materials for the Art’s (MFTA) warehouse in Queens on March 21 for two days of volunteering. Little did volunteers know that additional fuel would be essential as some heavy lifting lie ahead!

The third stop on TLC’s Year of Service introduced us to a New York based organization whose mission is to get art supplies into the hands of arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs. An added benefit to their work is giving new life to unwanted items that are repurposed (and kept out of landfills!) through art. Naturally this mission immediately resonated with TLC staff members who share a passion for the arts and conservation with many of our clients.

Like many small nonprofits, MFTA has a long list of to-do items that always seem to get lost while other needs take priority and the purpose of TLC’s volunteer work was to help improve efficiency by tending to those tasks. Volunteers repaired broken canvas bins and replaced wheels to make carting materials throughout MFTA’s enormous warehouse a bit easier. They also laid new tile in a conference room and classroom, where MFTA shows art teachers how to incorporate repurposed materials into their lesson plans. It was hard work, but of course the team managed to squeeze in some fun while they were at it!

Executive Director Harriet Taub wrote about TLC’s volunteer work on MFTA’s blog here. “Usually people come to MFTA for a shopping spree but the tables were pleasantly turned on Wednesday,” Harriet wrote, referring to Pinnacle List Company President Holly Ruble purchasing tools and supplies for the MFTA warehouse.

The heartfelt appreciation was mutual as volunteers also benefited from the experience. “We had an amazing time volunteering with MFTA!” said account director and project captain Hilary Baar. “The best part was that we could really sense the impact this small organization has on countless artists and nonprofits throughout New York. A field trip of young students visited while we were helping in the warehouse – it was great to see their imaginations spark when they got their hands on the supplies at MFTA!”

A special thanks to Cheryl Bailes from Central Park Conservancy and Carrie Buell and Aaron Kobilis with Friends of John Thune for volunteering alongside us. And thank you MFTA for welcoming our group and teaching us more about your important work!

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Materials for the Arts, or to make a philanthropic or in-kind gift, contact Harriet Taub, Executive Director, at 718-729-2029 or htaub@mfta.org.