SPOTLIGHT ON DIRECT MAIL
How to engage your donors via the post
St. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa Foundation: ‘One Song’ direct mail
This warm direct mail appeal has it all. Using great copy and simple and effective design, the appeal begins a beautiful conversation with each donor. Unsurprisingly, the results and emotional responses from supporters of St. Pat’s prove that taking time to craft a special appeal can really pay off. Dive in and get inspired before writing your next appeal.
Secrets of direct mail 2: answering the right questions with your envelope
In part two of our series on the ideas of Siegfried Vögele, Chris Keating explains how to use Vögele’s method in how envelopes are designed. Something that simple can make all the difference to your direct mail campaign. And you could also help some capybaras too.
RSPB: Letter to the future
How do you engage people in your cause, grab their attention and encourage them to stand alongside you on an issue of national importance? Not easy, we think. But here’s a brilliant example of a national conservation charity doing just that, very successfully.
LATEST CASE STUDIES
Fantastic fundraising campaigns from around the world
Camp Oochigeas: Mid-value direct mail appeal
An effective direct mail appeal is a wonderful opportunity to have an emotional conversation with your donors – as well as a chance for you to raise vital funds for your cause. This masterclass in direct mail has everything you need to craft your next engaging, target-busting direct mail pack.
Royal Ballet and Opera: Annual ‘Pointe Shoe Appeal’
This new addition to our arts and education showcase is a great example of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. The Royal Ballet and Opera have been sending a variation of this successful appeal for over 20 years – allowing many donors to give the gift of pointe shoes.
The HandleBards: Finding the best ‘messenger’ for an online fundraising appeal
Will the identity of the messenger have an impact on the level of and number of gifts? This small theatre company tested the importance of the messenger when embarking on a £10,000 fundraising drive for their hugely important education programme.
LATEST ARTICLES
Expert opinions, insights and how-to guides to inform your fundraising
I wish I’d thought of the ‘Touch, Look, Check’ campaign
At I Wish I’d Thought of That in November 2024, Laura Webb chose to celebrate a fundraising campaign that was created in 2012 and is still going strong today. Raising both money and awareness, ‘Touch, Look, Check’ is a value-exchange proposition that continues to engage donors.
Six tips for building stronger relationships with supporters across generations
Your donors come from a range of different generations, and it can be a challenge to build strong relationships with all of them. Recently, the team at Blackbaud devised some handy tips that will help you connect with supporters from each age group and build solid relationships.
Consejo Cívico hosts Giving Tuesday Thankathon in Mexico
In this article, Anita Gallagher and Yareli Sepúlveda Sáenz share how Consejo Cívico made a Giving Tuesday idea they heard about via SOFII work for them.
SOFII’S MOST POPULAR
Your shortcut to our must-see examples of fundraising inspiration
I just did my first round of grant assessing – here’s what I learned
After years of fundraising for small charities, Vic Hancock Fell found herself on the other side of the process – assessing grant applications. Find out what Vic learned and what changes she’ll make when she writes her next application for a trust or foundation.
Jewish Foundation of Manitoba: The Book of Life legacy programme
It’s hard to know how to start a conversation about legacies. But the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba found the perfect way to do just that. In this case study, Kimberley MacKenzie explains that instead of talking about death, the charity chose to talk about life – through the stories of their donors.
Meet Nana Murphy: lessons in donor care from Merchants Quay Ireland
This inspirational case study celebrates the incredible work of Merchants Quay Ireland’s fantastic fundraising team. They transformed the fortunes of this small charity, multiplied its revenue more than tenfold, and provided essential assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
SOFII speaks your language
