Why sincere is better than clever

In this brilliant blog, Mary Cahalane shares mistakes she made early on in her career and what she learnt from them. Mary closes her blog with this brilliant quote, which I absolutely love…: “Writing to your donors isn’t about you or your organization. Writing to your donors is about your donors. “Give them a problem […]

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Pressed for Time – Crowdfunding to tackle gobal environmental issues

Having access to digitised plant samples is such an important part of international plantscience research tackling global environmental issues. The University of Oxford is crowdfunding to bring 400 years of preserved plants into the digital age, focusing on the legume specimen (“peas and beans”) – an important food source and vital for researchers addressing key United Nations Sustainable […]

The Twelve Appeals of the Year

This blog by Mark Phillips from Bullfrog Fundraising Limited was written just before Christmas but holds up just as well as we return to work in 2020 – an excellent time for a little retrospection. What are we proud of? What’s great? What (or who) has been a right pain? And how’s the fundraising profession […]

13 Ways Working at a Nonprofit is Like Star Wars

Working at a nonprofit is hard. You need to do whatever it takes to stay positive and optimistic in your quest. Some days, that means taking a good look at yourself in the mirror and seeing yourself for what you really are: a nonprofit Jedi Master. It’s nearly Christmas and with a new Star Wars […]

Three things I look for in pitches

Richard Branson needs no introduction and there is no doubt that he has heard thousands of pitches. What can fundraisers learn from Richard when it comes to us pitching to wealthy individuals? Richard states: “Throughout my career, I have heard thousands of pitches: formal business sit-downs, opportunist moments in elevators, and some very inventive incidents […]

Go Fast? Go Alone. Go Far? Go Together: Tools and Thoughts to Gaining Buy-In for Successful Projects

Getting buy-in is imperative to doing our jobs properly, regardless of the function. Buy-in comes in different shapes and sizes, from donors, but also colleagues, senior leadership and the board. In this blog, Lizzi Hollis looks at some of the techniques you can use for gaining buy-in. https://hub.blackbaud.co.uk/blackbaud-europe/go-fast-go-alone-go-far-go-together-tools-and-thoughts-to-gaining-buy-in-for-successful-projects-by-lizzi-hollis

You are what you think; So just think big

“You are what you think; So just think big, believe big, act big…” the words of Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish American industrialist and philanthropist summarise the essence of successful fundraising – make friends and think big. No one gives to a cause that promises to do the ordinary. People want to feel they are contributing […]

Disrupting the Case for Support

A Case for Support is an oft-used tool in fundraising to set out your stall; its purpose to communicate the ‘Why’ of your campaign. It’s a working document designed as a group/workshop exercise to provoke discussion, tease out the campaign’s identity and find its most compelling elements. It constantly evolves and very, very rarely ever […]

Why fundraisers need to master the art of storytelling

Ever since humans first gathered together under a tree, we’ve told stories to one another. Stories that move us, scare us, illuminate our minds and inspire us to see the world anew. So why, when it comes to moving and inspiring people to give to a charitable cause, do so many in our industry resist […]

Finding Value in the Middle: An Examination of Mid-Level Giving

In recent years, more attention has been paid to the value of mid-level donors. But many mid-level programs still underperform, with fundraisers uncertain about how to engage with these donors. Lawrence Henze, principal consultant at Blackbaud Target Analytics, has over 38 years of development and marketing experience in the nonprofit sector. In his latest white […]