Tim Kersten, CEO, RKD Group

History of RKD

RKD Group began as a printing company that evolved into offering agency services, ultimately segueing into the nonprofit sector, where it focuses today. RKD is now a combination of six companies acquired since 2014.

Tim's Journey to RKD

Tim began his career with the vision to help non-profits function more like businesses as a means to fulfill their missions. He launched his own business at the age of 30, offering creative consulting and marketing for nonprofits and the ad agencies that served them. He then created a career as Chief Creative Officer at numerous agencies in the sector before returning to consulting.

Tim eventually joined one of RKD's predecessor companies in 2011, when he was brought into the company to take over for the founder.

Building RKD To What It Is Today

RKD is a true omnichannel marketing services company. Traditionally, fundraising in the non-profit world has been driven by direct mail. While RKD Group engages in direct mail initiatives, the company has worked to build a robust omnichannel, digital practice with a strong data and analytics practice.

Data drives everything that RKD Group offers to its clients, bringing non-profits to the forefront of where donors and potential donors are. Tim stresses the importance of net revenue versus gross revenue, attributing that distinction to RKD's success, and says from the start, he wanted RKD "to be the best-in-class marketing and fundraising services provider to a who's who of nonprofit organizations nationally."

Leadership Learnings

Tim's north star as a leader has been focusing on his employees and the culture of RKD, stating that he is a "big proponent that who you are as a person is more important than what you do." He believes that character, integrity, and teamwork are really the key to doing well while doing good.

What RKD Stands for in Today's Climate

Tim believes that charitable giving is core to who we are as a society — as a measure of our culture, but also our economics, noting that charitable giving accounts for 2% of U.S. GDP.

He reveals that RKD's purpose is not about marketing, but really to help people find meaning and significance in their lives by connecting them as supporters of organizations that working to make the world more humane, just, and compassionate.

Entrepreneurial Takeaways

Tim's message to entrepreneurs is three-fold: 1) don't go at it alone — surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are; 2) stay focused on a singular goal — define your vision, who you are and what you do; and 3) find the right partners who buy into your mission and vision and who are willing to tell you when you need to amend along the way, reiterating that the people around you are critical for your ultimate success.