Phil Claiborne, the longtime director of circulation of The Elks Magazine (Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A) has died. He retired last year after nearly 26 years with the organization. He had been battling cancer.
Claiborne was an important member of both the magazine circulation and nonprofit mailing industries. He is credited with spotting an anomaly in the Nonprofit Periodical Rates of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Fixing it became a part of U.S. Senate bill S. 2686, and then Public Law 106-384, transforming the rate-making process for Nonprofit Periodicals and Nonprofit Standard Mail in 2000.
Instead of a separate rate analysis for nonprofits, postage became a fixed discount from commercial rates. The reform was renewed in the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement (PAEA) and the 2022 Postal Service Reform (PSRA) acts regarding the consumer price index cap rate-making structure.
“Before his retirement, Phil was a very active and valuable member of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers. Phil was a passionate guy — about his wife Annette, his son Conner, the Elks, postal affairs, his friends and colleagues, and sports,” said Stephen Kearney, executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers. “A few years ago, Phil was a gracious host of our board of directors at the Elks Memorial in Chicago. He would often call me up and we would have extended, vigorous conversations about what was going on at USPS and what we could do about it.”
Claiborne had a framed copy of a USPS check on his office wall from when he fought hard for a postage refund for Elks Magazine. “It had my signature as I was Postal Service Treasurer at the time,” said Kearney.
He was also someone industry people turned to for advice and counsel. “Phil Claiborne was not only a pioneering figure in nonprofit postal affairs, but also a genuinely good man, whose expertise and advocacy significantly shaped the landscape of nonprofit mailing rates,” said Gretchen Littlefield, chief executive officer of Moore. “As a long-standing member of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers and a representative on the USPS Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee, Phil’s dedication to improving nonprofit mailing systems was matched only by his integrity and kindness, leaving an indelible and deeply respected mark on the industry. He was a mentor to many of us,” she said.
Claiborne started with Elks Magazine in March 1998 and was a Government Affairs Committee member of the Association of National Advertisers from 2001 to 2023. He was a member of, or chaired, numerous postal industry organizations and committees.
“Phil was also an ‘advocate.’ In the days of fighting for fair nonprofit postal rates and regulations, Phil was a leader in protecting the sector,” said Neal Denton, former executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers. “If your nonprofit relies upon preferred postal rates to raise funds or disseminate information — you can thank Phil for his diligence over the years. We’ll all miss his insights and sharp wit. I expect he and Bob Uecker are already settling into the ‘front row’ for Milwaukee Brewers spring training games.”
Arrangement for services are pending.