TLC Pulse / 11.21.11

• The Postal Service ends FY2011 with a net loss of $5.1 billion and a continued decline in First-Class volume. “The Postal Service can become profitable again if Congress passes comprehensive legislation to provide us with a more flexible business model so we can respond better to a changing marketplace,” said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe.
• A bit of brighter news – Chronicle of Philanthropy shares that a recent American Red Cross survey finds that nearly seven out of ten Americans say that giving to charity this holiday season is a priority.
• Network for Good turned ten last week and they marked the occasion with an interesting look at the “Evolution of the Online Donor”. It’s easy to forget how quickly things have changed since 2001 – this is a great reminder to be thankful for the role technology has played in fundraising!
• Check out these New York Times’ images from Brooklyn Museum’s new exhibition “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture”.
• PS – Here are ten tips for writing the perfect PS! Remember, never treat your PS as though it’s an actual PS!

TLC Spotlight: Seth Colton, Account Director

This month’s TLC Spotlight is on Seth Colton, Political Account Director.

Prior to joining TLC in August 2007, Seth worked for the United States Senate focusing on homeland security and education issues. After a few years he wanted to transition to the political side of the spectrum and stumbled upon the listing for an opportunity at Lukens. Lucky for us – our political team hasn’t been the same since! While Seth is based out of TLC’s Arlington office, he and his wife live in South Carolina full-time. 

Now let’s get to know Seth a bit better, shall we?

Five words that best describe you: caring, motivated, fun-loving, outgoing, and tall.

• What clubs or sports teams did you participate in in high school? I played basketball, was on the swim team and was President of the student body.
• What’s your favorite sports team? Boston Red Sox
• List five websites you visit most: Politico, Drudge Report, The Daily Beast, Facebook, and Amazon.
• What organizations do you support (philanthropically or with volunteer work)? My church, the American Cancer Society, and American Leprosy Missions.
• Describe your perfect Saturday. I’d love to wake up early and go for a morning hike with friends and my dog, followed by a day filled with good food, lots of laughs and an intense game of Taboo.
• What book is currently on your nightstand? I like to read a few at a time. Currently I’m reading the Bible, “Start Something that Matters,” and “The Tipping Point”
• What is your favorite TV show? “30 Rock”.
• Share one to-do that ranks high on your “bucket list”.  I hope to one day tour the Greek Isles with my wife.
• What’s your favorite local lunch spot? Bullfeathers is my favorite lunch spot in DC!
• Why do you work at TLC?  I work at TLC because everyone who works here truly cares about what they do and feel invested in the clients that we serve.  I also enjoy the unique mix of creative and analytical skills that TLC encourages you to develop. 

TLC Pulse / 11.15.11

• How might mobile applications affect arts and cultural ticket sales? The Artful Manager offers some interesting thoughts to consider.
• Nonprofit blog Craigconnects released the results of a social media study last week. The Chronicle of Philanthropy analyzed their findings, which showed organizations who post frequently to Facebook, Twitter and other social media websites also happen to have the highest social media engagement, meaning constituents actually follow and respond to their updates. Research is sorted by cause type with animal related charities ranking number one in social media engagement; arts and cultural are consistently in the top tier.
• Google+ for nonprofits launches last week – is your organization represented?
• Give to the Max Day D.C. was held last week. 17,838 gave over $2 million to local nonprofits!
• Just for fun – check out these images from the new exhibit Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980. Our congratulations go out to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for their part in this monumental regional collaboration. 

TLC's AMMC Presentation on Membership

Being charged with building and growing a membership program can be daunting. Check out TLC's recent presentation from the American Museum Membership Conference - Membership Start-up: Building a Base from the Ground Up - for some helpful hints. Thanks to The Barnes Foundation and the National Museum of American Jewish History for collaborating on this session!

Click here to download the presentation.

TLC Pulse / 11.07.11

• The DMA supports the recent bipartisan postal reform bill “The 21^st Century Postal Service Act of 2011”, introduced last week in an effort to address the Postal Service’s dire financial situation. The bill maintains a nonprofit postage rate.
• Netwits Think Tank shares some tips on getting your end-of-year email appeals opened. Remember – the first sentence, bolded text and underlined links stand out the most.
• Can the color of your carrier impact your response rate? Check out this Direct Mail IQ issue of “Who’s Mailing What!” to get the scoop on one particular package from Longwood Gardens that uses a brightly colored envelope to get results.
• The Agitator offers a summary of Adrian Sargeant of Blackbaud’s report Growing Philanthropy in the U.S.