Fundrais­ing Inspi­ra­tion Advent Cal­en­dar 2015

SOFII is grate­ful to Lau­ra Croudace for giv­ing us this idea of a spe­cial Advent cal­en­dar that shares some fan­tas­tic fundrais­ing ideas with you dur­ing Decem­ber. We’ll add new links to this page each week until Christ­mas. Hap­py Holidays!

Written by
SOFII
Added
December 03, 2015

1 December

Beware the testing nerd and test only that which will help you move forward.

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It seems as if impact is a big thing at United Way’s Capital Area, something sure to go down well with donors everywhere. A nice bright useful site too.

2 December

A great idea for engaging your donors that they are bound to love. It’s simple, neat and easy to copy.

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Did you see Sophie? A compelling proposition leads readers in to an engaging sponsorship opportunity.

3 December

Mix some simple yet effective press advertising with a little TV and direct mail, toss in clever use of digital technology and you will win happy donors – and keep them.

Captains of industry in the boardrooms of England could readily grasp Operation Raliegh’s urgent need for funds to replace their dwindling supplies when the appeal for help arrived written on sheets of toilet paper.

4 December

This is one of those audacious, simple ideas that leaves everyone wondering, ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ Truly, the best fundraising is almost invariably the most simple and most direct.

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'Go on, tear it off the page.' Amnesty supporters get the point.

5 December

Watch this video describing one of a handful of fundraising communications that really broke the mould.

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Jitka Samková's 1946 design for UNICEF's first ever card, for all the world’s children

6 December

A hand-drawn card from 60 years ago gave rise to a global success in fundraising.

7 December

Quickly, let me tell you in one word why I write short letters: politics.

Innocent’s woolly hats are a brilliant idea.

8 December

A five-step plan to help you join the hundreds of charities working successfully with commercial organisations

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Click on the image above to see the mind map in full.

9 December

Great work as always from the NSPCC legacy team. Simple, full of substance and something everyone can learn from.

10 December

Another very successful legacy campaign, this time from the RSPCA.

Rethink Mental Illness ‘find Mike’
Jonny Benjamin and Neil Laybourn (Mike)

11 December

Would you allow your brand to be virtually non-existent throughout a campaign? If you’re saying ‘no way’, please see the story of one man’s quest to find the man who saved his life.

12 December

When Reinier Spruit notched up 10 years as a fundraiser he celebrated by sharing his thoughts on the most important ingredients for success. It will only take you 3:49 minutes to catch up.

13 December

A partnership between a charity and a supermarket that has grown successfully over the years and benefited everyone involved.

14 December

This October the world’s first global IWITOT happened at IFC 2015. Hold on to your hats, it is brilliant!

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Stephen’s fundraising page inspired people around the globe and generated donations from 83 countries, from Andorra to Zimbabwe.

15 December

Meredith Niles really wishes that she had thought of JustGiving: a ‘for profit, for good’ platform for online giving.

When Octavia Hill was a child she refused to eat sugar because she didn’t want to endorse slavery.

16 December

Aline Reed thinks that Octavia Hill, co-founder of the National Trust in England and Wales, was a fantastic fundraiser. Hill believed that ‘the shilling of one is as of as much importance as the pound of another’. National Trust is now one of the largest charities in the land.

17 December

An idea that made the crossing from the USA to the UK. Not surprisingly Paul de Gregorio wishes he had thought of it: Cancer Research UK’s ‘race for life’ has raised nearly £500 million to beat cancer.

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The mail pack.

18 December

A Christmas mail pack that shows, when done properly with imagination and attention to detail, direct mail is still a wonderfully effective way to talk to your donors.

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Etta Macleod, complete with collection boxes, in the lounge of the MV Isle of Lewis.

19 December

It takes a lot of courage to go up to a stranger to ask for money face to face. So SOFII is proud to pay tribute to them with this story of Etta Macleod who personifies these heroes.

20 December

Why does fundraiser Laura Croudace support 12 – yes 12 – charities? You’ll find out on SOFII.

21 December

Everyone loves a story. Jerry Huntsinger tells us how to tell real stories about real people.

Creating an aura of hope and moist-eyed emotion.

22 December

But first of all a little seasonal word from SOFII’s much-missed pal George Smith. And a warning: never let anyone tell you that fundraising is anything but an emotional business. It always was. It always will be.

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23 December

St Michael’s Hospital Foundation invested thought and creativity to thank a very special group of donors: their volunteers.

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The Audubon Society’s special recognition for their long-term members.

24 December

When the Audubon Society of Rhode Island wanted to thank some very loyal donors they took a huge risk: they gave away free membership. This wonderful gesture paid off with enviable results.

Even though the main thank-you drive is over – just for now – there is still a thank-you banner on the home page of the website.

25 December

Over at Send a Cow it’s not just fundraisers who thank their donors – the entire team shouts it out loud and clear.

26 December

The incomparable Lisa Sargent makes sure that we say thank you properly.

About the author: SOFII

The SOFII collection aims to be the most comprehensive, best organised, and most inspiring collection of fundraising related content from around the world.

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