We say PULSE is a different kind of agency.

What makes us different?

Well for starters we approach your program NOT with a predetermined plan, but with a plan that is developed with you --based on your needs and goals -- to best connect your donor constituencies with your mission using the appropriate communications strategies.

A package or message that works well in Houston or Springfield won't necessarily work for an organization in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Philadelphia or New York or vice-versa.

You shouldn't have to have your message filtered through a cooperative messaging program.

Your mission and program outreach is unique and so should your fundraising and communications program.

Our Philosophy

If you partner with PULSE-MDC, know that we believe in your cause.

We don't take on clients just to build our business.

Our passion for your cause is genuine. Together, we infuse our collaboration with a sense of exploration and opportunity. We learn all we can learn about your mission, your operations, your goals and the possible obstacles that stand in your way of achieving those goals.

We believe that every client, mission and program is different and will work with each differently to achieve the best possible outcome. We care about your successes and work to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.

PULSE-MDC, as your partner, focuses on the programs and processes that have best possible opportunity to deliver success and put our full resources behind the work that will help your achieve it.

Your Partner

With PULSE-MDC as your partner, we can provide a comprehensive suite of services ranging from copy and creative to telephone messaging and merge-purge, from list planning to print production or anything in between.

When you work with PULSE-MDC you make one phone call. Nobody will sell you service and the drop you off on a customer service rep. We work as an extension of your fundraising team many times handling high-touch program right in your own office if needed.

By taking advantage of decades worth of experience both on the agency and organizational sides of the business you work with some of the best thinkers, strategists and executors in the business.

The partnership is real and the positive results that follow are evidence.

Our Reason

Delivering breakthrough thinking and breakout results by getting to the heart of the matter is NOT simply a catchy marketing tagline. It is our mission -- our vision and our reason for being in this industry.

And we get to the heart of the matter by linking cause and effect, obstacle and opportunity, donor and changing lives. We think of our work as tossing a pebble into a still lake, causing a ripple effect of change -- a PULSE, if you will.

Our History

Founded by Joe Ferraro in 1996, PULSE has evolved from a part-time practice to a comprehensive direct response fundraising agency -- connecting clients' missions with appropriate partners to execute integrated marketing and fundraising campaigns.

With an emphasis in health, human services, child, animal and environmental welfare, religious, education and advocacy sectors, PULSE works closely with clients to create dynamic and productive campaigns that deliver breakthrough thinking and breakout results by getting to the heart of the matter.

Our Founder

Joseph A. Ferraro, CFRE

Founder/Partner

PULSE Marketing, Development & Communications

(a division of Ferraro Creative Productions)

Joseph A. Ferraro, CFRE, founder of PULSE-MDC (a division of Ferraro Creative Productions) helps nonprofit organizations by creating comprehensive donor-focused and relationship-centric integrated marketing/fundraising programs that deliver breakthrough thinking and breakout results.

In addition to his current consulting work, Joe spent over 12 years on the client-side of the industry. Most recently at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), Joe established innovative fundraising initiatives that delivered year-over-year increases in total income and average gift, all while creative its first-ever comprehensive new donor acquisition and stewardship program along with the introduction of a rebranded and retooled middle-to major-donor giving society structure and comprehensive recurring gifts program. In addition to ushering a new wave and new way of donor stewardship and engagement through innovative social media and texting outreach Joe led the creation, development, and implementation of JAX's highly successful donor-focused stewardship/engagement publication, "The Bridge."

Prior to his time at JAX, while Director of Development at Manhattan College, Joe consistently increased income -- raising millions of dollars annually through a combination of direct response, special event and personal cultivation techniques

Prior to Manhattan College, Joe was the President and National Director of the U.S. Office of the Aid to the Church in Need – an international Catholic relief agency under the Vatican.

He served as the Director of Annual Programs at the American Bible Society creating and leading the team responsible for increasing the donor file by over 300% -- from 190,000 to 600,000 in three years and surpassing income goals each fiscal year -- over $20 million annually. While at the American Bible Society, Joe launched many ground-breaking programs such as the Crusade of Light that generated breakthrough results and garnered numerous industry awards.

Throughout his career, Joe has raised over $250 million and built new fundraising entities. He got his start in fundraising on the agency-side with Walter Karl Fund Raising in the 1980s and built the fundraising division for Uni-Mail List Corp. in the 1990s. Over the years has provided comprehensive fundraising services to over a hundred nonprofit organizations including many of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, including the American Heart Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, St. Joseph’s Indian School, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, American Lung Association, American Red Cross among others.

Joe currently serves as Vice President of the Putnam Valley Central School District's Board of Education and as President of the Stone's Throw Theatre Company. He was a founding board member as well as educational chair and webmaster of the Westchester - NY Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and former board member of the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association. He earned his CFRE credential in 1994 and his Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the New School in 1995. He has been a frequent speaker at industry events and has had articles published in periodicals such as the Non Profit Times and DM News.

Our Location

Our offices aren't here, but it is a beautiful picture isn't it?

Our main office is here:

We've Served:

Throughout our years of experience, we have

provided varied fundraising services to

numerous nonprofit organizations including among others:

Aid to the Church in Need – USA

ALS Association

American Bible Society

American Heart Association

American Lung Association - National

American Lung Association - Chapters

American Red Cross

American Voluntary Medical Team

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri

CARE

Catholic Campaign for America

Catholic Charities CYO

Culinary Institute of America

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Disabled American Veterans

Family Links

Goodwill Industries

Hospice of Northern Virginia

Hospital for Special Surgery

The Jackson Laboratory

John Wayne Cancer Center

Lend-A-Paw Animal Relief Foundation

Make-A-Wish Foundation of America

Manhattan College

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

Muscular Dystrophy Association

National Easter Seal Society

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Public TV and Radio - Various

Ronald McDonald House Charities - Various

Salvation Army - Various

Shelter Against a Violent Environment (SAVE)

Albert Schweitzer Association

St. Joseph’s Indian School

St. Louis Science Center

St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center Foundation

Southwest Indian Foundation

United States Golf Association

U.S. Committee for UNICEF

Logout Edit page