The USPS® offers an 18-month and 48-month option for NCOA processing and knowing which version your provider runs can have a major impact on your fundraising results. That’s why it’s critical to understand the differences between NCOA service providers before your next appeal, renewal mailing, or year-end campaign goes out the door.
NCOA's Impact on Your Fundraising ROI
Each year, 25-30 million Americans relocate, leaving donor databases filled with outdated addresses. This creates a significant challenge for marketing teams: approximately 5% of all direct mail fails to reach its intended recipients due to incorrect addresses. For a nonprofit, the result isn’t just wasted postage — it’s lapsed donors, missed renewals, and lost lifetime giving that could have funded your mission.
The solution lies in NCOALink®, USPS®’s secure database containing 160 million change-of-address records from individuals, families, and businesses. This service identifies and corrects address errors before your appeal, newsletter, or acquisition mailing launches, ensuring your fundraising message reaches the donors and prospects you’re counting on.
Understanding NCOALink® Full Service 48 Month vs. Limited Service 18 Month
Among leading NCOA service providers, USPS® awarded Anchor its first NCOALink® Full-Service Provider license over three decades ago. Today, there are only 15 Full-Service Providers in the US. This distinction matters significantly for your fundraising outcomes. Full-Service Providers access 48 months of current address data, while Limited-Service Providers work with only 18 months of information.
The extended period delivers measurably better results. In fact, 43% of address changes occur between months 19-48 — data that Limited-Service providers miss entirely. For a nonprofit mailing to a donor file that includes long-time supporters, that’s a substantial share of your donor base whose updated address never gets captured.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Nonprofit organizations often work with print vendors for years without ever questioning which NCOA service is behind the scenes. After learning that 48-month versus 18-month service can capture 43% more new movers, many marketing teams begin specifically requesting Full-Service NCOA for every mailing — from acquisition packages to major donor renewals.
Our experience has shown that Full Service 48-Month processing identifies significant moves beyond what an 18-Month Limited license can catch.
When a nonprofit relies on an 18-month limited license, moves from 19 months and older are left as addressed — meaning donors who moved more than a year and a half ago simply fall out of reach, representing missed gifts and wasted fundraising dollars that could have gone directly to programs.
Why Nonprofits Choose Anchor NCOALink® Full-Service as Their NCOA Provider
Many NCOA service providers lack direct USPS® licensing and must outsource their processing. At Anchor, we manage all processing internally within our USPS®-approved secure facility — which matters when you’re handling sensitive donor data.
Enhanced Mailing Delivery
- Access to 160 million permanent address change records maintained by USPS®
- Address updates for individuals, families, and businesses who moved within the past four years
- Typically reduces undeliverable mail and boosts appeal deliverability from 2-8%
Measurable Cost Savings for Your Mission
- Decreased postage waste and material costs — meaning more of every dollar raised goes to your programs
- Improved response and renewal rates across campaigns
- Qualify for USPS® automation discounts
- Preserved donor relationships through accurate, up-to-date contact information
Streamlined, Secure and Always On
- Convenient 24/7 online processing through fully automated systems
- Processing completed in a USPS-approved, SOC 2 Type 2 secure facility
- Dedicated customer support
- SSL encryption and strict privacy compliance — no donor data sold or shared
With over 50 years of data processing experience and billions of records managed, Anchor stands out among NCOA service providers for the accuracy and reliability nonprofits depend on.