The idea for SOFII came to me when I was travelling to Heathrow airport, on my way to Australia. I was thinking about a great fundraising idea I’d introduced to a tiny charity called Book Aid International, which had raised lots of money and, in fact, saved them.

Book Aid International held me in great regard as a result, but the truth is, that idea wasn’t mine at all. It was a version of a fundraising scheme that I’d remembered the Bible Society of America using very successfully years earlier.

A good memory – it’s a tremendous asset for a fundraiser, which is of course in part what SOFII is. It’s our collective memory – a place where you can find successes to inspire more successes, but also the odd word of warning on what not to do.

And SOFII is getting bigger and better by the day, with new exhibits, blogs and features. Importantly, it’s being used, just as I had hoped it would be. The number of people using SOFII has grown enormously, but sadly it’s all happening at a time when our funding is reaching crisis point.

To keep SOFII free, I need your help. Yes, yours.

If you’re here, it’s probably safe to assume you’re a fundraiser – a conscientious one who wants to do the very best for your cause. I very much hope SOFII helps you to do that, just as it helps many other fundraisers throughout the world, who may not be in a position to give money to support us.

Of course, SOFII only exists at all because so many people give something. Their time, their exhibits, their comments, their opinions.

Now, we need your money – it’s a simple as that.

If you live in the UK, please click here to give your support to SOFII now.

If you live outside the UK, please click here.

Thank you.

Ken Burnett, Founder, SOFII

PS I didn’t explain the experiment, did I? Well, during your visits to SOFII, you’ll see a series of banners, inspired by this exhibit on SOFII.

Which will win? You will decide, but if SOFII survives as a result, we’ll all benefit.