We're currently using Melissa Data and are happy with the results that we're getting.
Two additional thoughts.
It's probably worth switching up vendors from time to time, if practicable, even if you're pretty happy with your current vendor. Different vendors aggregate different data sources for their reference data, which may give different results. Perhaps more tellingly, a big part of the process is matching your records to the reference data, and different vendors likely have different processes for making those matches. We turned up a big spike of records to review the last time that we switched vendors.
One phenomenon that we're seeing these days, which would probably be the case with any vendor, is as follows: our constituent dies and the constituent's family or executor files a change-of-address request with the postal service (often to the address of a survivor). We process that change as part of our NCOA process. We then submit the name and address to our deceased-screening process, but the death isn't caught, as the deceased never lived at the address that we now have as current and submitted! Not sure what to do about that, except maybe do a special from time to time using the most recent address rather than the current address.
My US$0.02 worth; the usual disclaimers apply.
Good luck!
------------------------------
Alan S. Hejnal (he/him)
Smithsonian Institution
hejnala@si.edu------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-18-2024 02:17 PM
From: Angi Parks
Subject: Deceased append
Good afternoon,
Any recommendations for a vendor for running a deceased append?
Thank you,
Angi
Angi Parks
Advancement Services Manager
The Oaks Academy
www.theoaksacademy.org