Russ Reid and Grizzard, Leading Agencies Serving The Nonprofit Sector, To Merge

NEW YORK, April 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The DAS Group of Companies (DAS), part of Omnicom Group Inc., today announced that Russ Reid and Grizzard, two leading agencies dedicated exclusively to serving the nonprofit sector, are merging, creating an industry leader with unparalleled strategic and executional capabilities in the field.

The merger will combine the complementary resources of two agencies that invented many of the techniques and practices used in modern fundraising. The size and scale of a combined agency will give it the opportunity to shape the future of the field and allow it to forge partnerships with corporate brands as well as media and technology companies, create new ways of giving, and, ultimately, help nonprofit organizations do more good in the world. 

The new entity will be led by Alan Hall, CEO of Russ Reid. Chip Grizzard, CEO of Grizzard, will become Chairman of the new unit. With headquarters in Pasadena, CA, the agency will have offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Toronto. The name of the combined agency will be announced at a later date.

"Combining Russ Reid and Grizzard will enhance our ability to serve today's nonprofits, which are seeking solutions that go beyond fundraising. Nonprofits today are facing greater competition for share-of-giving than ever before and, as a result, they are looking for partners who can help them be successful amidst a rapidly changing environment," said Dale Adams, Chairman and CEO of DAS. "By combining these two agencies, we'll be able to leverage their joint strengths to help nonprofits achieve their goals."

"For nearly a century, Russ Reid and Grizzard have been helping nonprofits connect with their supporters in meaningful and tangible ways," said Alan Hall. "But we know that the world is changing, and changing fast. And in order for our efforts to continue being effective, we are adapting our approach to how we work with nonprofits. As an agency, we are gaining a deeper understanding of motivations, behaviors, data, and trends so that we can identify opportunities and create the right fundraising strategies for our clients."

"Russ Reid and Grizzard have come together because of a shared calling to partner with nonprofits to change the world," said Chip Grizzard. "The new agency is committed to finding innovative ways of acquiring donors at scale outside of traditional channels so that our clients can make an even greater impact through the work they are doing. Part of how we will do that is by better understanding the reasons why people are motivated to engage with an organization – whether it's around advocacy, evangelism, or financial support – so that we can create communications that best resonates with our clients' supporters."

The new agency's expanded scale and scope will create efficiencies and provide resources to invest in new talent and strategic capabilities. In addition to traditional fundraising, the agency will offer expanded services in brand strategy, data science, consulting services, and disruptive digital and social tools. The agency will also continue to expand the range of clients it works with, including corporate clients seeking to partner with nonprofits.

"As we solidify the structure of our new agency, our chief priority is to serve clients by building the right talent pool to ensure our continued and future success. That means bringing together people with different backgrounds, with different areas of expertise, and with different perspective. And I am committed to building an agency where new thinking and big ideas thrive because nonprofit organizations doing good in the world deserve that," said Mr. Hall.

About The DAS Group of Companies

The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

About Russ Reid and Grizzard

Russ Reid and Grizzard exist to help nonprofit organizations solve the world's most pressing problems. For nearly a century, the agencies have been providing data-driven solutions that create real and powerful connections between nonprofit organizations and people to fuel growth and impact. With offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Toronto, Russ Reid and Grizzard help clients through direct response fundraising, brand strategy and advertising, analytics, consulting services, and digital and social campaigns. Consistent growth has been driven by long-tenured relationships and results for The Salvation Army, Operation Smile, American Red Cross, World Vision, Mercy Ships, more than 70 humane societies and over 250 rescue missions and food banks.

Russ Reid and Grizzard are part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

SOURCE DAS Group of Companies

Related Links

http://www.omnicomgroup.com