Largest Animal Welfare Organization in Minnesota Selects Grizzard As Agency of Record

Jun 19, 08:04 AM

Current Headlines: The Grizzard Agency today announced that its Grizzard Animal Care Team has been selected to serve as agency of record for the largest animal welfare group in Minnesota. The newly merged organization consists of the Animal Humane Society, the Humane Society for Companion Animals and the Greater West Metro Humane Society, which joined forces in December 2006 to better serve animals and the community. The three groups serve a total of more than 35,000 unwanted or homeless animals annually.

The Grizzard Animal Care Team, dedicated to animal welfare nonprofit organizations, will manage fundraising direct response initiatives that support the organization's five shelters across Minnesota's metropolitan areas of Buffalo, Coon Rapids, Golden Valley, St. Paul and Woodbury.

The newly merged Humane Society is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more humane world for animals by promoting the responsible treatment of animals and by enriching the relationship between animals and people that enhances human lives immeasurably. The organization's services include adoption and surrendering, training, boarding, educational and outreach programs and cruelty investigation.

The organization has a large, active donor base and most donors have given in the last three years. Grizzard will work with the Humane Society to develop a more unified direct marketing message throughout the organization that encompasses all aspects of marketing as well as a more strategically, segmented direct marketing plan to place more emphasis on donor-centered fundraising. Services will include an in-depth analysis of the newly merged database, strategy, message development, as well as design and copy development.

"Grizzard understood our need to increase net revenue and brand awareness of the newly merged shelters along with identifying other and more frequent opportunities for donors to give," said Katie Kuelbs, chief advancement officer for the newly merged Humane Society. "Their plan offered a significant increase in donor renewal return and an integrated approach for retaining, renewing and acquiring new donors through different channels."

Grizzard began its work with local animal welfare organizations in 1975. It was the model that helped launched a very successful program that Grizzard expanded to dozens of animal welfare organizations throughout the United States.

"Historically, our primary focus has been special events and telemarketing with a small emphasis on direct mail to create awareness and raise funds," said Kuelbs. "We look forward to our partnership with Grizzard and the positive impact it will have on this community."

About the Animal Humane Society

Founded in 1891, the original 19th-century organization was established to protect children and animals -- especially the city's draft horses -- those who could not advocate for themselves. For 40 years, the organization's home was the Florence Barton Loring Shelter, which was remodeled several times. In the mid-1960's, the organization built a new shelter and adopted the name Animal Humane Society (AHS). AHS had a variety of names over the century: Minneapolis Humane Society, Animal Rescue League and Animal Humane Society of Hennepin County.

About the Humane Society for Companion Animals

Founded in 1878, the Humane Society for Companion Animals (HSCA) was the oldest sheltered animal protection agency in Minnesota, committed to saving animal lives and providing services for the animals and people of our community. HSCA cared for nearly 9,000 animals each year between two shelters in St. Paul and Woodbury.

About the Greater West Metro Humane Society

GWMHS began as the Humane Society of Wright County in 1980 when a group of caring individuals joined together to provide foster homes for homeless animals. Those foster homes grew into a permanent shelter that opened in 2003.

About Grizzard

The 87-year-old Grizzard Communications Group is one of the top 10 direct response firms in the United States.

Through offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles and several other major U.S. cities, the Grizzard Communications Group serves nonprofits across America. Clients include The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Rescue Missions, Food Banks, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, state Sheriffs' Associations, Habitat for Humanity affiliates, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Prostate Cancer Foundation, National Urban League and various Animal Welfare and Humane Societies. More information can be found at www.grizzard.com.

The Grizzard Communications Group is part of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.