---
title: RKD GroupThinkers Blog | Duke Smith
description: "As Senior Vice President, Client Strategy, at RKD Group, Duke Smith brings philanthropic counsel to the charitable community throughout Canada, the United States and internationally. In his 25-year career, Duke has provided direct-marketing fundraising expertise for North America’s largest and most respected nonprofit organizations, including American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Canadian Red Cross, ChildFund International, Heart & Stroke, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Plan International Canada, Save the Children USA and Canada, World Vision Canada, UNHCR, UNICEF Canada, United Service Organizations (USO), and many others. \n
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Duke has traveled to more than 40 developing countries to meet, film and photograph children and their families whose lives have been impacted by the organizations he has worked tirelessly to serve."
---
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## Duke Smith
As Senior Vice President, Client Strategy, at RKD Group, Duke Smith brings philanthropic counsel to the charitable community throughout Canada, the United States and internationally. In his 25-year career, Duke has provided direct-marketing fundraising expertise for North America’s largest and most respected nonprofit organizations, including American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Canadian Red Cross, ChildFund International, Heart & Stroke, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Plan International Canada, Save the Children USA and Canada, World Vision Canada, UNHCR, UNICEF Canada, United Service Organizations (USO), and many others.
Duke has traveled to more than 40 developing countries to meet, film and photograph children and their families whose lives have been impacted by the organizations he has worked tirelessly to serve.
## Featured Post
[Lori Collins](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/lori-collins)
## [Why fundraising's record first half doesn't feel like one](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one)
Our 2026 Mid-Year Benchmark Report is out, and the top line is genuinely good news: Mid-year revenue reached $1.86 billion—a 10-year high, up 51% over 2\[...\]
[Fundraising](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/fundraising) [Nonprofit Industry](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/nonprofit-industry) [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one)
[Lori Collins](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/lori-collins)
## [Why fundraising's record first half doesn't feel like one](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one)
Our 2026 Mid-Year Benchmark Report is out, and the top line is genuinely good news: Mid-year revenue reached $1.86 billion—a 10-year high, up 51% over 2\[...\]
[Fundraising](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/fundraising) [Nonprofit Industry](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/nonprofit-industry) [Data & Analytics](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/data-analytics)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/why-fundraisings-record-first-half-doesnt-feel-like-one)
## Recent Posts
### Posts by Duke Smith
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/religion-is-declining-in-the-us-heres-what-that-means-for-faith-based-nonprofits) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
## [Religion is declining in the US: Here’s what that means for faith-based nonprofits](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/religion-is-declining-in-the-us-heres-what-that-means-for-faith-based-nonprofits)
Three years ago, we shared how changing attitudes toward religion were impa...
By [Duke Smith](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/duke-smith) | [Missions](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/missions)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/last-minute-tips-to-boost-year-end-gift-catalog-success) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
## [Last-minute tips to boost year-end gift catalog success](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/last-minute-tips-to-boost-year-end-gift-catalog-success)
I’ve already debunked the myth that gift catalogs are a dying art. In fact,...
By [Duke Smith](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/duke-smith) | [Year-End Giving](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/year-end-giving) [Gift Catalog](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/gift-catalog)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/how-can-nonprofits-transform-giving-from-a-moment-into-a-mission) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
## [How can nonprofits transform giving from a moment into a mission?](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/how-can-nonprofits-transform-giving-from-a-moment-into-a-mission)
Water is our most precious resource. A necessity for life, no matter where ...
By [Duke Smith](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/duke-smith) | [Donor Retention](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/donor-retention) [Stewardship](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/stewardship)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/10-foundational-elements-to-drtv-success) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
## [10 foundational elements to DRTV success](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/10-foundational-elements-to-drtv-success)
For nonprofit organizations, nothing makes an impact on people quite like v...
By [Duke Smith](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/duke-smith) | [DRTV](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/drtv) [Acquisition](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/acquisition) [Cultivation](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/cultivation)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/blog/gift-catalogs-you-dont-need-a-goat-for-symbolic-giving) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
## [Gift catalogs: You don’t need a goat for symbolic giving](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/blog/gift-catalogs-you-dont-need-a-goat-for-symbolic-giving)
You might be thinking that interest in gift catalogs fell off years ago, wi...
By [Duke Smith](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/duke-smith) | [Direct Mail Fundraising](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/direct-mail-fundraising) [Multichannel](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/multichannel) [Gift Catalog](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/gift-catalog)
[Read More](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/is-fundraising-insensitive-during-a-time-of-crisis) OR SHARE THIS ARTICLE:
## [Is fundraising insensitive during a time of crisis?](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/is-fundraising-insensitive-during-a-time-of-crisis)
Justin Wheeler, CEO of Funraise, recently held an online Q&A to discuss...
By [Duke Smith](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/author/duke-smith) | [COVID-19](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/covid-19) [Cultivation](https://blog.rkdgroup.com/topic/cultivation)
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