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Hello, A quick question about NCOA data: When a person updates their address, does the USPS scrub/format that new address before it gets released? We have a scenario where we're getting our usual NCOA data, but our new postal verification software says some addresses are "unverified" Is this common and I just don't know about it? Are there any good "NCOA for Dummies" resources available? Thank you in advance, Becki ********** Becki Randall Associate Director, Gift and Record Services Alumni Relations and Development Northwestern University brandall@northwestern.edu<mailto:brandall@northwestern.edu> 847-491-8322

Interesting. My understanding is that the U.S.P.S. does validate NCOA addresses. We sometimes get returns from NCOA that are the same address that we submitted, and the vendors have explained that the reason is that the record that we submitted matched the NCOA reference database but that the address submitted to NCOA didn't validate, so it isn't returned. Have you tried validating the addresses on the U.S.P.S. website<https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input>? Not sure about an "NCOA for Dummies" reference, but if you're an AASP member, AASP just posted a new "Best Practice in Data Enhancement" document to its Best Practices Library<https://www.advserv.org/page/best-practices-library/>. There's a fair amount about NCOA in there (along with other Data Enhancement processes). If you want the Advanced Course, you can look at the NCOALink User's Technical Reference<https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2018-07/User_Tech_Info.pdf>. Some fascinating stuff in there about NCOALink matching, which is really quite sophisticated. It includes NCOALink return codes (including one code that indicates that the DPBC of the returned address was ambiguous). And you can ponder the "Cindy-Mary Table" and notice that if you only submit a first initial for your constituent, you'll never match to an NCOA change-of-address. My US$0.02 worth; the usual disclaimers apply. Good luck! Alan Alan S. Hejnal Data Quality Manager Smithsonian Institution - Office of Advancement 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 600E P.O. Box 37012, MRC 527 Washington, DC 20013-7012 *: 202-633-8754 | *: HejnalA@si.edu<mailto:HejnalA@si.edu> [SNAGHTML5cbfa34]<https://www.si.edu/> [AASP_FundSvcs_LOGO-01(040pct)(mark)] From: Advancement Services Discussion List <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> On Behalf Of Becki Randall Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:06 PM To: FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG Subject: [FUNDSVCS] Question about NCOA data Hello, A quick question about NCOA data: When a person updates their address, does the USPS scrub/format that new address before it gets released? We have a scenario where we're getting our usual NCOA data, but our new postal verification software says some addresses are "unverified" Is this common and I just don't know about it? Are there any good "NCOA for Dummies" resources available? Thank you in advance, Becki ********** Becki Randall Associate Director, Gift and Record Services Alumni Relations and Development Northwestern University brandall@northwestern.edu<mailto:brandall@northwestern.edu> 847-491-8322

From the address verification software side - it's possible that: A) That the address verification software data hasn't been refreshed recently depending on how it's doing the address check. B) The address could be from a new residential development or an address that address verifications can have issues with (such as Rural Route addresses or addresses connected to APO/FPO/DPO). In our office, we treat NCOA updates as a gold standard. It's coming to us as effectively a verified address. Christopher Amherst Assistant Director of Advancement Information Systems Development and Alumni Relations P 585.475.2959 F 585.475.7004 [RIT]<http://www.rit.edu/> Rochester Institute of Technology 116 Lomb Memorial Drive, USC 03401/Rochester, NY 14623 [RIT]<https://www.rit.edu/alumni/signature/> Connect with us: [RIT] <http://www.facebook.com/RIT.Alumni> [RIT] <https://twitter.com/RIT_Alumni> [RIT] <http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=72797> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: The information transmitted, including attachments, is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and destroy any copies of this information. From: Advancement Services Discussion List [mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG] On Behalf Of Becki Randall Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:06 PM To: FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG Subject: [FUNDSVCS] Question about NCOA data Hello, A quick question about NCOA data: When a person updates their address, does the USPS scrub/format that new address before it gets released? We have a scenario where we're getting our usual NCOA data, but our new postal verification software says some addresses are "unverified" Is this common and I just don't know about it? Are there any good "NCOA for Dummies" resources available? Thank you in advance, Becki ********** Becki Randall Associate Director, Gift and Record Services Alumni Relations and Development Northwestern University brandall@northwestern.edu<mailto:brandall@northwestern.edu> 847-491-8322

Hi, In this case it could be that the postal verification software you're using is not that up-to-date. Sometimes the databases for these address verification services get updated once a month or even less. I also want to mention that the NCOA for Canadian addresses are not always properly formatted, though in theory they should be. Usually the NCOA service provider can apply the address cleansing service on those NCOA returns and make sure they are valid. BTW, I really recommend Alan's "Best Practice in Data Enhancement". It's a great resource. Best, George George Firican Director, Data Governance & Business Intelligence | Development and Alumni Engagement The University of British Columbia | David Strangway Building 500-5950 University Boulevard | Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Office: 604 822 6595 | george.firican@ubc.ca<mailto:george.firican@ubc.ca> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ubcalumni> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/alumniubc> | YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/user/supportubc> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/edu/the-university-of-british-columbia-10802> [cid:image001.png@01D470F7.9562CC20]<https://support.ubc.ca/> -- The information contained in this e-mail message and any attachments (collectively "message") is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient (or recipients) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error and that any review, use, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message. From: Advancement Services Discussion List <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> On Behalf Of Hejnal, Alan Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 5:45 AM To: FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG Subject: Re: [FUNDSVCS] Question about NCOA data Interesting. My understanding is that the U.S.P.S. does validate NCOA addresses. We sometimes get returns from NCOA that are the same address that we submitted, and the vendors have explained that the reason is that the record that we submitted matched the NCOA reference database but that the address submitted to NCOA didn't validate, so it isn't returned. Have you tried validating the addresses on the U.S.P.S. website<https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input>? Not sure about an "NCOA for Dummies" reference, but if you're an AASP member, AASP just posted a new "Best Practice in Data Enhancement" document to its Best Practices Library<https://www.advserv.org/page/best-practices-library/>. There's a fair amount about NCOA in there (along with other Data Enhancement processes). If you want the Advanced Course, you can look at the NCOALink User's Technical Reference<https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2018-07/User_Tech_Info.pdf>. Some fascinating stuff in there about NCOALink matching, which is really quite sophisticated. It includes NCOALink return codes (including one code that indicates that the DPBC of the returned address was ambiguous). And you can ponder the "Cindy-Mary Table" and notice that if you only submit a first initial for your constituent, you'll never match to an NCOA change-of-address. My US$0.02 worth; the usual disclaimers apply. Good luck! Alan Alan S. Hejnal Data Quality Manager Smithsonian Institution - Office of Advancement 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 600E P.O. Box 37012, MRC 527 Washington, DC 20013-7012 *: 202-633-8754 | *: HejnalA@si.edu<mailto:HejnalA@si.edu> [SNAGHTML5cbfa34]<https://www.si.edu/> [AASP_FundSvcs_LOGO-01(040pct)(mark)] From: Advancement Services Discussion List <FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG>> On Behalf Of Becki Randall Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:06 PM To: FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG<mailto:FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> Subject: [FUNDSVCS] Question about NCOA data Hello, A quick question about NCOA data: When a person updates their address, does the USPS scrub/format that new address before it gets released? We have a scenario where we're getting our usual NCOA data, but our new postal verification software says some addresses are "unverified" Is this common and I just don't know about it? Are there any good "NCOA for Dummies" resources available? Thank you in advance, Becki ********** Becki Randall Associate Director, Gift and Record Services Alumni Relations and Development Northwestern University brandall@northwestern.edu<mailto:brandall@northwestern.edu> 847-491-8322