A conversation with Robert Gluck, CEO of Harris Connect, and Gregg Carlson, President of IDC Fundraising Division, discussing the aqusition announcement and subsequent benefits of this new, comprehensive, multi-platform fundraising solution for non-profit organizations.

Robert Gluck

Robert is a highly experienced media executive who most recently served as President and CEO of another Wicks owned company, NDTV, where he oversaw the successful purchase and sale of a group of network affiliated television stations (ABC, NBC, and CBS). NDTV also received funding from Halyard Capital and JPMorgan Capital Partners.

Gregg Carlson

Gregg Carlson draws from more than two decades of fund-raising experience. Believing technology should only enhance the personalization of the message; Gregg ensures the donor is prioritized over the process in all that IDC Fundraising offers.

Listen to a conference between IDC’s President Brad Carlson and Col. Ray Hord, USMC (Ret.), Vice President for Development,Marine Corps Heritage Foundation as they discuss Securing Major & Planned Gifts by Telephone.

What We Do
Our business is to provide donor-centered, comprehensive fund-raising services. We achieve this by communicating our clients' values and mission to their family base, making each individual contacted on behalf of our clients feel good about the experience. We are committed to building lasting and supportive relationships for and with select not-for-profit organizations whose work, we believe, supports the common good. Clear, compelling values - integrity, quality, taste and stewardship - guide our counsel and conduct. We observe all appropriate laws, ethical standards and codes of professional conduct.

The IDC Story
Although the core values that guide IDC have changed little in the more than 35 years since our founding-in the application of technology, the design of communications strategies and the delivery of service to our clients - IDC has become known as a leader in fund-raising innovation.
IDC began as a major-gift consulting firm. The techniques of cultivating major gift prospects with a focus on the individual, not the process - continue to guide our work today. As our founder put it - "We do what's right, not what's easy." Similarly, IDC's core values of integrity, quality, taste and stewardship remain the benchmarks of our service delivery.

IDC gained national recognition for innovation in 1977 when Yale University called to ask for help with its capital campaign. IDC developed the first personalized methodology for the public/community phase of a capital campaign. We combined the use of letters and phone calls to simulate the steps and relationships used in major gift cultivation and solicitation. It was the beginning of IDC's trademarked PHONE/MAIL® telecommunications program. Today, IDC partners with many universities to maximize their student calling programs.

To also enable other organizations without ready access to a cadre of callers to benefit from the PHONE/MAIL® telecommunications program, IDC created an offsite option - The IDC Phone Centre. Our initial client was the New York City Public Library. Today, the firm's Phone Center raises tens of millions annually for scores of clients.

Other innovations followed as the firm applied the PHONE/MAIL® program to help community hospitals, cancer centers, independent schools, military academies, zoos and aquariums, performing arts organizations, museums, libraries, public broadcasting stations, and others. To serve the firm's faith-based clients, IDC created a team of self-selected communicators sensitive to these client's unique vocabulary and needs.

At the same time, IDC expanded its original PHONE/MAIL® methodology to ensure our clients would have the appropriate communication strategy - matching soliciting strategy with each prospect's potential - maximizing the potential of each of our client's prospect segments.

IDC has pioneered the application of new technology in our communications with prospects. The Association of Fund-Raising Professionals (AFP) recognized the firm's Virtual VolunteerSM for exemplary use of the Internet and e-mail communication. IDC developed the first web-based training program for student callers. We created a web-based prospect management system to give manual calling programs the reporting and evaluation benefits of an automated system. IDC created the first pledge fulfillment program that accommodates multi-payment, multi-year pledges. Personalized caller identification is another innovation, with calls from the IDC Centre carrying each client's unique Caller ID.

These innovations in technique, strategy and service support a central philosophy - honor and respect the individual prospect. Ensure that each prospect - pledge or not - feels good about the solicitation experience. Realize people give generously when they are educated about an organization's need and have the opportunity to carefully consider their giving.

Organizations partner with IDC when they, too, believe their donors deserve the best.