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 … Continue reading Why fundraisers need to master the art of storytelling
13 Ways to Write Better Fundraising Asks
When you’re only six weeks into your new fundraising job and your boss suddenly assigns you the task of writing your organization’s year-end fundraising appeal, due tomorrow, what the heck are you going do? Instead of copying and pasting last year’s letter, how about you carve out some time to create your very own masterpiece? … Continue reading 13 Ways to Write Better Fundraising Asks
How Donors Choose: One choice that’ll increase revenue
Many nonprofits already know the value of giving concrete examples for what donations of different amounts are worth. You know, things like…$25 feeds a shelter dog for three weeks…$60 pays for a counselTina Cincottiing session at the legal aid clinic…$100 provides five hours of tutoring help… Whether people donate and how much is greatly influenced … Continue reading How Donors Choose: One choice that’ll increase revenue
How to respond when they challenge your fundraising appeal
Does your appeal letter really need to be two pages long? What about that serif font? Sentence fragments? Mary Cahalane answers common questions about writing successful appeal letters. https://mcahalane.com/how-to-respond-when-they-challenge-your-fundraising-appeal/
Where brand and fundraising meet. The case for a case for support.
Fundraising is focussed on the bottom line. Hard, tangible cash. Facts and figures. Brand is about perception. The heart and mind of the audience. Intangible feelings. OK, so I’m being purposefully black and white. But everyone of my friends in the sector feels that brand and fundraising teams need to work better together. And with … Continue reading Where brand and fundraising meet. The case for a case for support.
More Than Just Data: Why Actionable Insights Matter
There’s no question that customer experience (CX) is a data-driven discipline. After all, at the foundation of most CX programs are close-ended surveys designed to capture and analyze customer feedback. Yes, metrics are a crucial element of every successful CX program. With metrics, you can establish a clear performance baseline and track trends based on … Continue reading More Than Just Data: Why Actionable Insights Matter
6 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
The formula for getting work done is simple: Show up and sit there. Think. Stare out the window. Write. There’s no muse, no need for a perfect storm of artistic conditions to come together before you can rack up the pages. You just do the work. The work gets done. But simple formulas don’t always … Continue reading 6 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
Alumni Engagement: What We’ve Gotten Wrong And How To Fix It
At some level, every fundraiser knows that alumni engagement is an important driver of alumni giving. At the same time, the advancement profession seems perpetually perplexed by how to measure engagement and apply those measures to increase philanthropy. Why is that? Generally speaking, advancement offices have access to a pretty accurate picture of who alumni … Continue reading Alumni Engagement: What We’ve Gotten Wrong And How To Fix It
6 assumptions you should make about donors
Jeff Brooks takes guidance produced on customer experience and reviews it through the lens of a fundraiser because it's a look at how people think and decide. Here are the "6 components of human beings" with what each might mean for fundraisers to give you a powerful advantage. https://www.futurefundraisingnow.com/future-fundraising/2018/03/6-assumptions-you-should-make-about-donors.html
Direct Mail – Dead or Alive
These are dark times for direct mail fundraising. Response rates are down (and have been trending lower for more than a decade). At the same time, costs of paper, printing, and postage keep going up, usually faster than inflation. So direct mail is dead, right? The sooner you stop using it for fundraising, the better. … Continue reading Direct Mail – Dead or Alive
Propper Fundraising 