Beyond Multi-Channel: What to Expect at DMAW’s Multi-Channel Innovation Summit

By Claire Recalde

“We’re not just talking about individual channels. We’re talking about how we can put the audience at the center and make those channels work together in smarter, more integrated ways.”

 

We all talk about multi-channel fundraising: breaking down silos, integrating direct mail and digital, and putting the donor first.

 

And as we head back to our desks to plan our next campaign, there’s always value in bringing in fresh ideas, learning what others are testing, and collaborating across teams to make all of those pieces work together even better.

 

That’s why this quote stood out to me when I asked a few of the people involved in planning DMAW’s Multi-Channel Innovation Summit what they were most excited about.

 

The Multi-Channel Innovation Summit is a reimagining of DMAW’s Multi-Channel Mini-Con, but the change goes beyond the name. What started as an event focused on channels has evolved into a broader conversation about audience-led channel integration: putting the audience at the center and making our channels work together in smarter, more connected ways.

 

Instead of starting with “Which channel should we use?” we’re starting with “What does our audience need, and how can we use every channel strategically to meet them there?”

 

That’s what I’m looking forward to about this event. It moves beyond talking about multi-channel fundraising and gets into how we actually make it work, with fresh ideas and practical takeaways we can bring back to our own programs.

 

Moving from Multi-Channel to Audience-First

Over the course of one day, we’ll look at the full donor lifecycle, including how acquisition and sustainer programs work together and how integrated strategies can drive engagement, retention and long-term donor value.

 

The agenda gets into some of the questions many of us are working through right now: How do we strengthen acquisition across channels? How do we improve retention and lifetime value? How should we think about measurement and attribution when donors are interacting with us in multiple places? Where do data, technology, creative and AI fit into all of this? And how do we build teams and campaigns that are truly integrated?

 

You’ll hear real-world case studies, tactical deep-dives and different perspectives from across the industry. The event is also designed to be interactive, with fast-paced sessions and opportunities to exchange ideas with the people around you.

 

Across the agenda, I like that the conversations will challenge some of the ways we traditionally think about our programs. From rethinking donor value and attribution to exploring AI, acquisition and what’s next in direct response, there are opportunities throughout the day to look at familiar challenges in new ways.

That’s the kind of conversation I’m looking forward to. Not necessarily giving us all the answers, but giving us new ideas and questions to bring back to our own programs.

 

The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

October 22 also comes at an interesting moment for our industry. We’ll be heading into the final stretch of year-end, while also thinking about the impact of the election on our organizations, audiences and fundraising programs. It’s one of the last opportunities many of us will have to be together before the year-end sprint really takes over.

 

I’m looking forward to the sessions, but I’m just as interested in the conversations they’ll spark. The lightning rounds will give us a chance to dig into specific topics, compare notes and hear what others are seeing and testing. What’s working? What isn’t? And what can we learn from each other?

 

It feels like the perfect time to get people from across our industry in the same room, hear different perspectives from some great speakers, share what we’re learning, and pull all of those pieces together.

 

There will also be a rooftop happy hour afterward, with more time to connect and keep the conversations going.

 

Join us October 22 at the AGU in Washington, DC, for the DMAW Multi-Channel Innovation Summit. I hope I’ll see you there!

 

 

Claire Recalde is a Senior Account Director at ABD Direct, where she manages the Washington, DC office and works with nonprofit and political organizations on direct response fundraising strategy.