Over the past 40 years, Odell Simms, Inc. has worked with nonprofits, associations, and public-private partnerships to create customized solutions that yield measurable results.
Fundraising & Sponsorship Case Studies
Reinvigorating stalled fundraising efforts
Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation is the first national memorial to honor an African-American leader and a non-president on the National Mall. On behalf of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, our firm reinvigorated stalled fundraising efforts. Through the development of a strategic fundraising initiative, we helped the Foundation reach its $120 million campaign goal and make the dream of this national memorial a reality.
Building a fundraising campaign from the ground up
Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum Foundation is dedicated to restoring, preserving, and enhancing America’s most-visited Civil War battlefield. Our firm built this organization’s comprehensive fundraising campaign from the ground up. We planned and implemented a range of short- and long-term strategies—from relationship cultivation, to national event planning, to leadership activation—to help the Foundation reach its $125 million capital campaign goal. With these critical funds, the Foundation built an education complex, acquired additional historical Pennsylvania properties, and launched educational programs focused on US history.
Opening doors to new donor prospects
The P
entagon Memorial Fund was created to finance a memorial that honors those who perished in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Working within a very short time frame, our firm leveraged its relationships to facilitate meetings with major donor prospects. Through these efforts, the necessary funds were raised to build a monument near the site of the Pentagon attack. It was opened to the public on September 11, 2008, and was the first of three national 9/11 memorials to be dedicated in this country.
Garnering community support for a local initiative
The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, located in an underserved Washington, DC neighborhood, uses baseball as a vehicle to provide high-quality, after-school and summer programming in the areas of leadership, STEM, and nutrition. By harnessing the commitment, networks, and visibility of local corporations and philanthropic leaders, our firm helped the Academy reach its goal to complete construction of the facility by spring 2014.
Serving as an organization’s sole development staff
Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial Foundation (DVLMF) is committed to honoring those who sacrificed so much of themselves in defense of our nation. The Foundation retained our firm to serve as its full-time development team during the initial phases of the campaign. Through this partnership, we provided a cost-effective option to advance its fundraising goals. The memorial was built in fall 2014.
Leveraging creative research strategies
The Civil War Trust is devoted to the preservation of our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields. Our firm played an integral role in the Anniversary Campaign to save 20,000 acres of our country’s most vulnerable, hallowed ground. Through sophisticated and strategic research, we developed family trees dating back to the Civil War-era, highlighting prospects’ ancestral roots and ties to specific battlefield preservation opportunities. Utilizing this customized and personal approach with major donors, our firm helped the Civil War Trust surpass its fundraising goals.
Upgrading a donor contribution
Army Historical Foundation is devoted to creating a museum for the United States Army—the only service branch without a dedicated, national memorial or museum. In addition to a robust, ongoing direct marketing program, our firm provided major donor fundraising services to advance the organization’s mission. Through strategic re-engagement of an existing partner, we cultivated a seven-figure donor prospect to contribute an eight-figure gift. This effort not only set a new benchmark for leadership funding for this project, but also set the tone for an aggressive leadership campaign moving forward. These funds are instrumental in completing the soon-to-be-built National Museum of the United States Army.
Differentiating a brand in the market
The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC provides young people with character-building and life skills lessons using golf as the platform. Our firm leveraged Washington, DC’s robust network of government and public affairs executives to garner media attention, raise awareness, and most importantly—generate significant national funds on behalf of this DC-based organization. The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC adopted our unique development model to establish and differentiate its brand in the market and position it for future fundraising successes.
Positioning an overseas initiative as a relevant domestic opportunity
American Air Museum, located in Duxford, England, is a world-class museum that features historic aircraft and memorializes the American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK bases during World War II. Through creation of the “Honor & Educate” campaign, we positioned this overseas museum as a relevant funding opportunity for US companies, individuals, and foundations. Based on the success of this campaign-based fundraising, the Museum engaged our firm in subsequent programmatic fundraising.
Direct Marketing Case Studies
Coordinating mail and online direct marketing efforts
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture aims to stimulate a dialogue about the African American experience and foster a spirit of reconciliation and healing. Through a combination of award-winning direct mail packages and sophisticated online strategies, our firm acquired over 65,000 members and helped generate national awareness of this important new museum. The Museum is now open on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Exceeding a client’s direct marketing goals
The National World War II Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, honors Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II. Our firm was selected as the exclusive direct marketing agency to support this campaign. Through a combination of direct mail and online fundraising, we raised $53 million from 650,000 veterans and private citizens. These funds enabled the American Battle Monuments Commission to build this long overdue tribute and create an online and on-site World War II Registry of Remembrances.
Building on a long-term partnership to expand citizen support
The Heritage Foundation develops and promotes policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, and strong national defense. Our firm launched The Heritage Foundation’s direct marketing program in 1977. Since then, through mail and online channels we have raised hundreds of millions of dollars and built an active membership base of 650,000 to date. Our longstanding partnership with this organization has raised awareness of The Heritage Foundation brand, which is considered the largest and most respected conservative public policy organization in America today.
Advancing an organization from a regional player to a national powerhouse
Louisiana SPCA advocates for the animals of Louisiana, advancing their welfare through programs, education, and services. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Louisiana SPCA’s headquarters, animal shelter, and even its database of contributors, the organization sought the services of our firm. We launched a national-level direct marketing campaign for this otherwise regional SPCA chapter, raising money and recruiting supporters from across the country. These funds enabled Louisiana SPCA to build an entirely new, state-of-the-art facility for animal rescues and adoptions.
Leveraging museum content to drive membership
Army Historical Foundation is devoted to creating a museum for the US Army—the only service branch without a dedicated, national memorial or museum. For more than 10 years, our firm has managed the Foundation’s direct marketing program to help advance its mission. Our award-winning direct marketing packages have focused on the development of the Registry of the American Soldier, an on-site and online database that recognizes Army veterans for their service. Through this initiative, we have recruited over 110,000 members to date and have raised critical funding for the soon-to-be-built National Museum of the United States Army.
Combating donor fatigue through unique targeting
The National World War II Museum located in New Orleans, Louisiana, illuminates the American experience during the World War II-era with moving personal stories, historic artifacts, and powerful interactive displays. Despite donor fatigue resulting from the recently completed National World War II Memorial capital campaign, our firm exceeded expectations for the Museum. Through a direct marketing program that targeted not only veterans, but also sons and daughters of those who served, we raised $35 million from 285,000 donors to build and expand the National World War II Museum. This multi-building campus is one of New Orleans’ most popular tourist attractions and serves as the world’s largest and most comprehensive World War II museum.
Setting the standard for direct marketing success
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of these two great national landmarks, which symbolize freedom, opportunity, and the American immigrant experience. Through innovative direct mail packages, our firm raised $50 million to restore Lady Liberty in time for her 100th anniversary. We raised an additional $50 million to build the American Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island, construct the world-class Ellis Island Immigration Museum, and restore buildings on the Island. This initiative, which generated two million donors total, is considered one of the most successful direct marketing campaigns in US history.
Operating as a fully integrated strategic partner
American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens is a nationwide program to help families of officers killed in the line of duty. Serving as its direct marketing agency for more than 20 years, our firm has generated more than one million donors and many millions of dollars in net revenue. Today American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens is the largest organization of its kind in the nation.
Kick-starting a direct mail program
Children’s Wish Foundation International fulfills the wishes of children who suffer from terminal illnesses. Our firm established the Foundation’s direct mail program, generating more than 100,000 donors and over $1 million in net income in the campaign’s first year.
Economic Development Case Studies
Growing a regional economic development agency from the ground up
The British Midlands consisted of a partnership between the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) and West Midlands Development Agency (WMDA) and aimed to drive foreign direct investment to the region. Our firm built on its experience developing an international marketing strategy for EMDA to represent The British Midlands joint brand when this partnership was established. Through a comprehensive North American program we provided The British Midlands an average of 15-20 investments annually. When the agency opened five North American offices to expand its presence, our firm managed staff recruitment; assisted with mobilization; and provided lead generation services that generated more than 20 meetings per month for British Midlands representatives.
Leveraging international promotion programs to drive US corporate expansion abroad
London & Partners (LP) is a public-private partnership that serves as the official promotional organization for the city of London. Our firm worked seamlessly with LP to plan and execute a rebranding campaign that generated significant foreign direct investment for London from the North American market. This initiative included in-market representation, promotion, and high-level event programs such as the Route to 2012 Olympic campaign. We represented LP and its predecessor, Think London, for 16 years—sourcing and delivering an average of 20 completed investment projects each year.
Building relationships with US decision makers to prevent disinvestment abroad
Lo
ndon Development Agency (LDA) was the regional development agency for the London region of England. LDA engaged our firm to combat the tremendous reduction in foreign direct investment by North American companies who faced pressures to reduce operating costs. We built relationships with North American-based executives and gathered strategic insights into 200 key investors in London, many of which were Fortune 500 companies. This business intelligence positioned LDA to better address the needs of its investors, stave off North American disinvestment, safeguard jobs, and identify expansion opportunities.
Generating leads as the sole representative in the United States
LEG Thüringen is the economic development organization for the region of Thuringia, Germany. For 11 years, our firm has served as LEG Thüringen’s sole representation in the United States and Canada, providing lead generation and appointment setting services to secure investments from the North American market. Our efforts have yielded hundreds of meetings with corporate decision makers in traditional industries as well as emerging sectors, such as electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, and environmental technologies. Our firm’s in-market representation coupled with specialized business intelligence has enabled Thuringia to expand North America’s investment in the region.
Facilitating inward investment through sector-specific targeting
Corporación del Fomento de la Producción (CORFO) is the economic development agency for the country of Chile. To advance CORFO’s investment goals, our firm developed and implemented a sector-specific lead generation strategy. We researched US companies with a Latin American presence that focused on information and communication technology (ICT), business process outsourcing (BPO), and/or near shoring. Through this targeted approach, our firm identified and introduced CORFO to over 250 companies interested in establishing new locations or expanding existing facilities in Chile.
Leveraging events and market intelligence to uncover foreign direct investment projects
Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is the marketing and investment promotion agency for the country of Thailand. For eight years, our firm represented BOI in the North American market to facilitate foreign direct investment in the region. We leveraged proprietary market intelligence to identify companies across a variety of sectors that were interested in expansion in Thailand. Our firm introduced these corporate decision makers to BOI senior staff through US-based missions. Each mission included approximately 15 one-on-one meetings and high-level seminars with between 20 to 50 attendees. Working closely with BOI East and West Coast offices, we provided full-service event production and strategic guidance for an average of three missions a year to generate investment opportunities.
Generating investment in specialized markets
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise is the international trade and promotion agency for the country of New Zealand and is headquartered in New York City. Our firm was retained to attract specific industry sectors to New Zealand, given the country’s highly specialized market. Competing with Australia, Japan, and other Pacific Rim nations, we developed and executed a sophisticated series of investment promotion events and business-to-business networking programs across the United States and Canada. Over the course of five years, our firm arranged high-level appointments on behalf of New Zealand’s Director for Trade and Commerce and its Ambassador to the United States, resulting in investments from desired target sectors—biotech/biomed, smart manufacturing, film, marine, and forestry.
Re-defining a region’s strengths to foster inward investment
Merseyside Development Corporation (MDC) was a major urban development corporation based in Liverpool, England. On behalf of MDC, our firm launched a series of business marketing initiatives across North America and Europe to facilitate inward investment and business retention in Liverpool. Considered a model for economic development efforts, our approach enabled MDC to achieve major successes valued at nearly $1 billion, creating jobs and building facilities on over 2,500 acres of greenfield and brownfield sites. To combat concerns regarding Liverpool’s unemployment rates and dated infrastructure, our firm worked with MDC to rebuild the city’s image as a location for business opportunity and growth. Financial assistance, employment grants, and tax abatement were all tools to attract decision makers at mid- and large-cap companies to consider investing in Liverpool. Our lead generation services resulted in an average of 40 visits a year by high-level executives across a range of sectors, including automotive, pharmaceutical, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing.
Leveraging a global event to identify international investment opportunities
Rio Negócios is the investment promotion agency of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our firm represented Rio Negócios in the United States, Brazil, and Europe, providing a range of investment attraction and promotion programs. Activities included profile-raising events, industry trade shows, and face-to-face appointments with C-suite executives in all three regions. A major initiative included leveraging the London 2012 Olympics to showcase Rio’s hosting of the 2016 Olympics. Over a period of 12 days, our firm generated more than 80 high-level appointments and seminars and secured nearly 500 attendees at events throughout London to generate interest in Rio’s business markets.