Direct Response Fundraising, Strategy, Creative, and Growth Services Follow Solicitation

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“UT MD Anderson”) requests proposals from qualified and experienced firms to provide direct response fundraising strategy, creative development, audience growth, campaign execution support, and related services described in this Statement of Work (SOW).

UT MD Anderson may make one or more awards and may award all or a portion of the services, as permitted by the solicitation.

UT MD Anderson seeks an experienced direct response fundraising agency to develop and support an integrated, data-informed program that increases donor acquisition, retention, long-term value, and net revenue while strengthening the donor experience and advancing UT MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer.

The selected supplier(s) will plan, execute, manage, and report on UT MD Anderson’s direct response fundraising program in accordance with approved annual roadmaps, campaign plans, budgets, schedules, and performance objectives. Work may include, but is not limited to, direct mail, email, telemarketing, paid advertising, landing pages, lead generation, SMS, and other channels authorized by UT MD Anderson.

Unless otherwise authorized, the services described in this SOW do not include direct mail printing, lettershop, postage, gift processing, or lockbox services.

Core Direct Response Fundraising Programs

• Acquisition Program
• Renewal and Retention Program
• Telemarketing Program
• Lapsed Donor Reactivation Program
• Stewardship Program
• Acknowledgment Program
• Monthly Giving Program
• Holiday Giving and Special Moments Program
• Mid-Level Donor Program

The selected supplier(s) will develop annual roadmaps, campaign plans, pro formas, testing plans, audience strategies, creative strategies, schedules, and optimization recommendations.

The selected supplier(s) will assist UT MD Anderson with annual budget development, pro forma preparation, revenue and expense forecasting, investment recommendations, and ongoing financial management.

The selected supplier(s) will develop integrated, donor-centered creative for approved direct response programs, including, but not limited to, strategy, concept development, copywriting, design, art direction, production preparation, versioning, quality control, and presentation of recommendations.

The selected supplier(s) will develop, execute, manage and optimize paid advertising campaigns designed to expand UT MD Anderson’s prospective-donor audiences and support direct response fundraising objectives.

The selected supplier(s) will establish a multi-touch attribution measurement framework that connects campaign activity to lead acquisition, first-time giving, subsequent giving, retention, and long-term donor value, as data availability permits.

After evaluation of RFP written proposals, UT MD Anderson will identify a shortlist of proposers for onsite or remote supplier presentations/product demonstrations. [...] Such supplier presentations/product demonstrations may be held remotely, and specific instructions for remote supplier presentations/product demonstrations shall be provided to the shortlist of proposers.

The selected supplier(s) must have at least three (3) references for comparable engagements and relevant case studies demonstrating measurable fundraising outcomes.

The selected supplier(s) must disclose all subcontractors, offshore resources, actual or potential conflicts of interest, and material third-party dependencies.