About DDS – Donor Development Strategies

About DDS

Since 2011, Donor Development Strategies, LLC has specialized in the professional delivery of fundraising and membership appeals straight to the doorsteps of prospective donors for non-profit organizations. As more organizations and non-profits compete for fundraising dollars, it is critical for today’s non-profits to take the initiative to get out and talk face-to-face with the community that funds the services stations provide every day.

Our team consists of field experts that specialize in targeted, professional outreach capable of developing and executing a superior donor development strategy for non-profit organizations of all types and sizes.

“Canvassing has reinvigorated our off-air acquisition program, and brings in a great ratio of sustainers compared to mail! We didn’t know if canvassing would be as effective for radio as it is for TV, and were pleased to find it stacks up just as well. DDS provides excellent customer service, as well as great budget and results spreadsheets. Sometimes people just need someone to show up at the door and DDS is there to do the job with smarts, care, and experience.”

Susannah MichaelsDirect Mail & Sustainer Coordinator, Wisconsin Public Radio

“Canvass is our top source for new donors, even more than pledge drives.”

David PrestonVice President Membership, Twin Cities PBS

“OPB first launched canvassing with DDS as our vendor in 2014. Over that time canvassing has become a critical part of our investment in new member acquisition. Canvassing is now our second highest source of new members, bringing in significantly more new members than TV and radio drives combined with significant net revenue over the life of the program. The DDS team is professional and great to work with. Their canvassers do a great job of representing OPB in our communities.”

Anne Ibach Senior Director of Membership, Oregon Public Broadcasting

Susannah MichaelsSenior Development Specialist, Wisconsin Public Radio

Are you a station that would like us to canvass for you? Email us at inquire@donordevo.rainporchhosting.com.

Our Team

Mike O’Connell – Chief Executive Officer

Mike O’Connell brings extensive statewide, Congressional, and municipal campaign and program management experience to Black Diamond Outreach (BDO). Mike is proud to manage Colorado’s largest ongoing public education campaign, Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED). In this role, Mike directs grassroots and grasstops outreach, oversees a robust continuing statewide field program, coordinates program targeting and analytics, advises the CRED management team, and integrates outreach into the broader program.

Through BDO, Mike oversaw the outreach campaign for Your Choice Colorado in 2016. By implementing a targeted, site-based and door- to-door canvass program, Mike’s team played an integral role in the success of Colorado’s most comprehensive liquor law update in decades. In the most recent election cycle, Mike managed the petition circulation process for two statewide ballot measures, the first cycle requiring signature collection in all 35 Colorado State Senate districts. Additionally, Mike is responsible for BDO’s sister company, Donor Development Strategies, which conducts a nationwide fundraising canvass program for Public Broadcast affiliates.

Mike previously worked for the Colorado AFL-CIO, serving as the member program director in 2012. There he was responsible for all voter contact, member mobilization, release staff program, worksite program, campaign metrics, and accountability reporting. He is a targeting and data management expert, which, when combined with extensive experience running field campaigns, ensures that every project is uniquely tailored to its specific needs.

Trever Hutcheson – VP of Operations

Trever Hutcheson, VP of Operations, has over a decade of experience managing citizen outreach campaigns across the U.S. His expertise spans year-round fundraising efforts, development work, and election-year expansions, making him adept at tailoring outreach strategies to meet the unique needs of each client. Trever began his career with the Public Interest Network, where he served as a campus organizer and canvass director around the country, building both citizen and financial support for public interest campaigns.

Since joining Donor Development Strategies in 2015, Trever has worked to enhance membership acquisition and development for PBS and NPR stations nationwide through door-to-door outreach. Under his leadership, his team has knocked on over 15 million doors, secured approximately 500,000 individual contributions, and delivered $42 million in funding to PBS and NPR partners in over 12 states.

Based in Denver, CO, Trever enjoys spending his free time playing music, the outdoors, and traveling.

Holly LaPlante – National Field Director

Holly LaPlante serves as National Field Director at Donor Development Strategies, where she began her journey as a Regional Field Director managing a portfolio of offices. Over the past several years, she has demonstrated strong leadership in growing and managing canvassing teams, ultimately stepping into her current role taking a national perspective.

In this role, Holly manages national operations and a team of Regional Directors, helping drive performance across DDS’s partnerships with public broadcasting member stations. With a strong foundation in door-to-door canvassing, Holly has a hands-on understanding of field operations and community engagement that drives success across markets. In addition to leading field strategy, Holly oversees vendor management and reporting functions to ensure transparency and efficiency across campaigns. Her field experience and commitment to public media makes her a central force in DDS’s continued growth and success.

Holly is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, where she double majored in Women’s Studies and Environmental Studies—an academic foundation that sparked her passion for advocacy and justice. During her time in college, she conducted research assessing quality of life in Los Angeles and participated in “LA Votes,” a project distributing surveys at polling places to better understand voter experience. After college, Holly gained political campaign experience working on Colorado State Senator Tom Sullivan’s campaign, further strengthening her commitment to community-focused initiatives and public service. She also gained early field experience through street canvassing for several nonprofit organizations, including the ACLU and the International Rescue Committee, deepening her passion for civic engagement and grassroots outreach.

JOB OPENINGS

Canvasser Job Openings
Field Manager Job Openings
Canvass Director Job Openings
Regional Field Director Job Openings

Contact Us

Donor Development Strategies, LLC
141 Union Boulevard
Suite 300
Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: (720) 536-8705

info@donordevo.rainporchhosting.com