Mark Phillips
The time for leadership - giving in the time of coronavirus
by Mark Phillips
The latest body of research by Mark Phillips and Bluefrog Fundraising highlights the need for leadership at a crucial time for fundraisers.
Read moreA medieval ‘course’ in writing an appeal
by Mark Phillips
Do you think appeal writing is a recent science? Think again. In this article, Mark Phillips of Bluefrog Fundraising takes you all the way back to the Middle Ages.
Read moreAnnouncing the SOFII history project
by Mark Phillips
An illustrated journey through time, with commentary by Mark Phillips, especially for SOFII users.
Read moreBeyond words – how thanking can transform your relationship with your charity’s supporters
by Mark Phillips
The all-important thank you. After each donation, the thank you sets the tone for what could be a good or bad supporter experience. Yet so often, the thank you becomes automated, forgotten, or worse still – left out of the donor journey on purpose. In this article, Mark Phillips shares why he thinks improving your thanking can be transformational to the relationship you have with your supporters.
Read moreBluefrog Fundraising’s free resources for creating a coronavirus appeal
by Mark Phillips
During uncertain times it’s refreshing to find that people are offering help to fundraisers and charities who may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak. One such hero is Mark Phillips of UK agency Bluefrog Fundraising, who provides much-needed support, advice and useful templates in this excellent blog post.
Read moreCARE International UK: ‘Don’t give, lend’
by Mark Phillips
The saying goes, ‘teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’. This could easily have been the inspiration for the lendwithcare campaign. CARE International UK embarked on a new way of engaging supporters by offering them the chance to lend money rather than donate it. Supporters were able to invest in exciting business opportunities in poor communities – an innovative and economically sound way of developing those communities whilst maintaining the focus and engagement of donors.
Read moreCDE project 6 section 5.1: a communications practitioner’s view of emotion in fundraising.
by Mark Phillips
How should emotion be used in practical ways across all channels to enhance the donor experience? Can better use of emotional storytelling, as opposed to ever more persistent asking, really improve the donor experience, and if so, how?
Read moreCoronavirus research finding. What do donors think about giving now?
by Mark Phillips
Are you communicating with donors during the coronavirus pandemic? Showing innovation? Valuing your donors? If so, this research by Bluefrog Fundraising shows that you could be on the right path in these uncertain times.
Read moreDavid Ogilvy’s letter for the United Negro College Fund, from 1968
by Mark Phillips
Back in 1968, David Ogilvy was appointed as Chair of the United Negro College Fund. He soon realised that he might be able to use his copywriting skills to help the organisation raise funds and wrote a piece that used an unusual delivery mechanism: a train.
Read moreFive insights for fundraisers from the British Red Cross Museum of Kindness
by Mark Phillips
We’ve been meaning to get this gem on SOFII for a while, and we hope you love this bit of fundraising history as much as we do. In this article Mark Phillips shares what he saw on his visit to the British Red Cross Museum of Kindness and shares what fundraisers can learn from their exhibition of wonderful things.
Read moreOmicron variant, new restrictions and failings of leadership. What should fundraisers do now?
by Mark Phillips
Will the Omicron variant and government responses to it, have had a negative or positive impact on donor needs and attitudes to giving? This video tells all – and crucially Mark provides an update on the kind of results they’ve seen recently.
Read morePeople who have more money can give more away
by Mark Phillips
The impact of the pandemic means many people, particularly older donors, are wealthier. Mark Phillips of Bluefrog Fundraising offers you some simple ways to adjust your approach to mid-level donors as you plan for 2021.
Read moreStop f***ing about with your logo and stick to fundraising instead
by Mark Phillips
Mark Phillips of Bluefrog Fundraising explores the potential negative impacts of a major charity rebrand and explains why good fundraising is where your emphasis should be.
Read moreUnleash the might of the donor – power as a component of a fundraising plan
by Mark Phillips
Your donors want to make a difference. But sometimes when they give, they aren’t sure if their generosity is making an impact. In this article, Mark Phillips shares three techniques you can add to your fundraising appeals. Each one will help ensure your donors know that they DO have the power to make a difference.
Read moreWhat are the long-term effects of coronavirus on fundraising?
by Mark Phillips
What has been the long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on fundraising? Mark Phillips of Bluefrog Fundraising tells all.
Read moreWhat really matters to a donor
by Mark Phillips
Are you telling your donors what they want to hear? Or are you talking all about yourself? Click here to see what donors want from the charities they support.
Read moreWhy do people give? A podcast by Mark Phillips of Bluefrog Fundraising.
by Mark Phillips
We’re delighted to bring you the first edition of a very special podcast: Why do people give? Hosted by Mark Phillips of agency Bluefrog Fundraising, episode one features celebrated fundraising legend Giles Pegram, CBE, former fundraising director of the NSPCC.
Read moreWhy do people give? Talking to donors during the coronavirus crisis
by Mark Phillips
How are donors feeling towards charities and what do they expect from them during the coronavirus crisis? Mark Phillips and Amber Nathan of Bluefrog Fundraising discuss their recent research into this crucial question.
Read moreWhy do people give? The coronavirus special with Giles Pegram
by Mark Phillips
Mark Phillips of Bluefrog sits down with fundraising expert Giles Pegram to discuss the coronavirus crisis and how it affects charities in this edition of ‘Why do people give?’
Read moreWhy do people give? The legacy podcast with Richard Radcliffe
by Mark Phillips
In this conversation, experienced legacy fundraiser Richard Radcliffe shares why people leave bequests and what changes he has noticed over the years, particularly as baby boomers have begun to seriously consider which charities they want to remember.
Read moreWhy do people give? The podcast with Ken Burnett
by Mark Phillips
We bring you Mark Phillips’ conversation with SOFII founder and fundraising expert Ken Burnett, from the podcast Why do people give?
Read moreWhy do people give? The podcast with Lyndall Stein
by Mark Phillips
Why do people give? The podcast hosted by esteemed fundraising expert Mark Phillips is back, this time with the amazing Lyndall Stein. In the interview, Lyndall shares many wonderful memories including working for the African National Congress and raising money to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, to name a few.
Read moreAbout the author
Mark Phillips (he/him) started fundraising for ActionAid UK in the late 1980s and later became head of fundraising at YMCA England. He set up Bluefrog in 1997 with one simple goal – to be the agency he would have wanted to employ. His approach to fundraising is based on understanding and answering donor needs. Mark shares his research, ideas and findings via his blog.
