RKD Group, LLC

RKD Group is a leading provider of omnichannel fundraising and marketing solutions dedicated to serving nonprofit organizations across North America. Founded in 1970, with the current RKD Group entity formed in 2014 through the merger of LW Robbins and KerstenDirect, its mission is to amplify and champion its clients, propelling their growth and enabling them to achieve their philanthropic objectives. The company is headquartered in Richardson, Texas, within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

RKD Group offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to accelerate donor engagement and net revenue. These include strategic planning, advanced analytics, data management, creative development, audience development, and market research. The company also provides digital campaigns, paid media, direct mail, and donor journey strategies, alongside technology products such as personalization tools, nonprofit-specific connectors, and machine learning solutions. It serves a diverse range of nonprofit sectors, including hospitals, social services, health, disease research, animal welfare, and faith-based charities.

In January 2026, Kevin Jones rejoined RKD Group as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding founding CEO Tim Kersten, and leading a restructured executive team. Recent strategic moves include the acquisitions of MDM Fundraising in April 2024 and Heller Consulting in May 2024, expanding its service capabilities. The company continues to strengthen its market position, evidenced by new client partnerships such as the Tarrant Area Food Bank in March 2026 and Toys for Tots in January 2026, solidifying its role as a growth architect for mission-focused brands.

Latest updates

Nonprofit Recurring Giving Gap Persists Despite Awareness Push

Event summary

  • RKD Group, GivingTuesday, and Positive Equation are launching the second annual Monthly Giving Awareness Week, May 11–15, 2026.
  • The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable, recurring giving programs among nonprofits.
  • Data indicates monthly recurring donors generate 2.75 times more annual value than non-recurring donors.
  • Despite this, half of nonprofits still acquire zero new recurring donors annually.
  • The 2026 Monthlies Awards will recognize nonprofits with successful monthly giving programs.

The big picture

The persistent gap between the demonstrated value of monthly giving and its actual adoption highlights a significant operational challenge for nonprofits. This initiative underscores the growing recognition that predictable, recurring revenue streams are critical for long-term sustainability, yet many organizations lack the expertise or resources to effectively cultivate them. The collaborative effort between RKD Group, GivingTuesday, and Positive Equation suggests a shift towards more structured and data-driven approaches to fundraising.

What we're watching

Adoption Rate
The success of Monthly Giving Awareness Week will hinge on whether it can demonstrably shift the current low rate of recurring donor acquisition among nonprofits, and whether this translates to sustained change beyond the week itself.
Task Force Impact
The Monthly Giving Task Force's influence will be tested by the effectiveness of this initiative; a failure to move the needle could signal a deeper systemic issue hindering adoption.
RKD Group Role
RKD Group’s continued involvement and the resources it commits will be a key indicator of the long-term viability of the program, given its position as a solutions provider within the nonprofit sector.

RKD Group Secures American Diabetes Association Agency of Record Role

Event summary

  • RKD Group has been selected as the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) direct mail agency of record.
  • The collaboration will focus on fundraising program transformation through data analytics and integrated marketing.
  • RKD Group, with 500+ employees, serves hundreds of nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada.
  • The ADA has been active for 85 years, focusing on research, advocacy, and community support.

The big picture

This agreement highlights the increasing reliance of large nonprofits on specialized marketing agencies to optimize fundraising efforts in a challenging economic environment. The direct mail channel, while seemingly traditional, is undergoing a data-driven renaissance, and RKD Group’s selection underscores the importance of analytics and personalized engagement in donor acquisition and retention. The ADA's choice of RKD Group also signals a broader trend of nonprofits seeking partners with digital-forward capabilities to reach supporters across multiple channels.

What we're watching

Financial Impact
The success of this partnership hinges on RKD Group’s ability to demonstrably improve the ADA’s fundraising efficiency and net revenue gains, which will be closely scrutinized given the ADA's substantial operational scale.
Data Integration
How effectively RKD Group integrates its data intelligence capabilities with the ADA’s existing donor data and systems will determine the long-term value and scalability of the collaboration.
Competitive Landscape
The ADA’s decision to consolidate its direct mail agency suggests a potential shift in fundraising strategies among large nonprofits, which could intensify competition among direct response marketing firms.
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