about

CADMEF is an independent 501(c)(3), tax-exempt foundation that supports direct marketing education in the midwest at the college and university level. It is governed by a board of trustees.

CADMEF history began in 1985, when it was founded with CADM past president Bob Marinello as first chair of the board of trustees. The new foundation immediately set to work to assist with the launch of a Masters Degree in Direct Marketing program at Northwestern University's Medill School. This program began in the autumn of 1986 and received assistance from CADMEF in the form of $250,000 in funds, instructor recommendations and the donation of a direct marketing library. The DM masters program has since become part of the Integrated Marketing Communications program at Medill.

CADMEF went on to support the development of new and existing direct and interactive marketing programs at DePaul University, Columbia College, Roosevelt University, Oakton Community College, Northern Illinois University, Ferris State University and the University of Chicago. The certificate programs at DePaul University's Direct and Interactive Marketing Institute are a direct result of CADMEF support which began in 1989. A new certificate program at the Graham School of the University of Chicago also is supported by the Foundation.

For a number of years, CADMEF sponsored annual or semi-annual Collegiate Institutes and Professors' Institutes in partnership with the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation. In recent years, CADMEF has focused its efforts on programming developed internally. For example, In 2001, CADMEF launched a day-long annual program to introduce students and professors to direct marketing, The Okner Direct Marketing Collegiate Symposium. In 2002, it introduced its annual Academic Update to provide midwestern educators with expert knowledge on trends in direct and interactive marketing.