Karen Garven

Karen Garven is a Senior Consultant in the Driect Response Group at American Philanthropic. She has experience in grant writing, project management, and publishing. A graduate of the Leadership Institute’s Direct Mail School, Karen manages direct mail production and provides expert quality control, editing, design, and printing services to her clients.

Prior to joining American Philanthropic, Karen worked as an editor at Taylor & Francis Group. She holds a Master’s degree in English from Villanova University and a Bachelor’s from Messiah College, and she currently resides in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

integrated calendar
Five reasons why your organization needs an integrated calendar

With many demands on your time, creating an integrated calendar for your direct response communications may not top the list of your priorities. Here’s why it should.

Karen Garven / 3 min read
Shaping a compelling fundraising offer for direct response

When constructing messaging for direct response fundraising, it is imperative to identify the problem that the organization is helping to solve and frame the donor as a partner in helping to solve that problem.

Karen Garven / 3 min read
dignity
Navigating nonprofit messaging and negative stereotypes

When raising money for your human service nonprofit, it’s important to maintain the dignity of the people you serve, even as you motivate gifts from a broad base of donors.

Karen Garven / 4 min read
lift note, lift notes, direct mail
The basics of “lift notes” in direct mail

Lift notes can improve your direct mail package and engage more readers. Here’s an intro to the basics of lift notes.

Karen Garven / 2 min read
How to use front-end premiums in direct mail

Using premiums in direct mail can reduce or limit donor engagement—or it can boost results. Here’s how to use front-end premiums well.

Karen Garven / 3 min read