St Dunstan’s, a charity providing support for blind ex-Servicemen and women, has appointed TDA following a three-way creative pitch.

The charity is ramping up its investment in direct marketing as it seeks to achieve ambitious growth targets over the next five years.

TDA has been tasked with aiding the recruitment of a larger, more age-diverse base of regular supporters and ensuring that they engage with the brand in the long-term.

The agency was selected after presenting creative ideas surrounding initial recruitment, the donor journey and achieving brand standout. It will begin work immediately on direct marketing campaigns scheduled to go live this autumn, and will continue as the charity’s direct marketing agency of record going forward.

Helen Wenman, head of fundraising at St Dunstan’s, said the charity had gone from admitting 48 new beneficiaries per year in 1999 to well over 600 in 2007 to 2008.

She said: “We need to support this ongoing growth with a shift in the emphasis of our fundraising strategy.”

TDA managing director, Peter Wilton, said: “St Dunstan’s is looking to redress its reliance on legacy  donations with a proactive direct marketing strategy that will broaden the supporter base.

“The charity has a strong fundraising proposition which is likely to be enhanced by public awareness of today’s soldiers returning from active duty.”