Basics of fundraising
The A to Z of writing fundraising appeals: A to F
by Steve Lynch
Writing a good appeal is a big undertaking and isn’t as easy as some may think. In this handy guide Blue Frog London’s Steve Lynch gives a handy alphabetical guide to the dos and don’ts of writing a fundraising appeal.
Read moreGood asking: the role of research in efficient, effective and enjoyable fundraising.
by Beth Breeze
Why does good asking need research? This is the question explored in this fascinating report by Beth Breeze of the University of Kent, and her conclusions will inspire every fundraiser who reads them.
Read moreCDE project 20: fundraising investment
by The Commission on the Donor Experience
This project will identify the extent to which donors’ concerns on this topic are a barrier to giving, and how better fundraising practice can ensure that ‘the truth told well’ about fundraising costs can reassure those donors who are willing to engage with the issue.
Harold Sumption: the shy pioneer
by Joanna Culling
In this addition to SOFII’s Fundraising Legends series, Joanna Culling talks to Ken Burnett, who proudly shares the full text of Harold’s only published material – Yesterday’s trail-blazing and pointers for tomorrow.
Read moreThe treehouse of knowledge – the 34 fundamental foundations of fundraising
by Ken Burnett
Of all the nuggets of essential fundraising knowledge buried within all the lists, books and articles ever written, which would be the one list, that you’d choose to hang directly above your space, your workplace? This is that list.
Read moreAre you answering the right questions if you don’t want to bore people?
by Matthew Sherrington
Where do most nonprofits tend to start when it comes to telling their story? They start with themselves: ‘Who We Are’, or on their website ‘About Us’. And then they move on to ‘What We Do’, a description of the activities or themes they work on. More about ‘me’. But people generally aren’t interested in you. They are interested in the cause or issue they are passionate about. They are interested in the difference they can make. So it’s not about you.
Read moreA new approach to fundraising – why you should be accessing your donors’ networks
by Richard Turner
It’s time to ring the changes in the way we raise money. Rather than just looking at our donors’ financial capital says Richard Turner, we could be using their social capital to make fundraising so much better for them and our causes.
Read moreFundraising Inspiration Advent Calendar 2015
by SOFII
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!
Operation Homefront: The Card
by SOFII
We are always dishing out our business cards that don’t really say very much, so it’s great to see this wonderfully simple and innovative idea that gr…
Read moreMusings of a direct response fundraiser no. 2: finding the ‘sweet spot’
by Jonathon Grapsas
Our job as fundraisers is to find the sweet spot: an amount that is appropriate to that donor at that time. In his second article on the musings of a direct response fundraiser Jonathon Grapsas shows exactly how to do it.
Read moreSOFII: the BIG questions
by SOFII
How do we make donors feel really special? And how do they want to see us?
Read moreConfessions of an unethical nine-year-old fundraiser
by Norma Cameron
One of the golden rules of successful fundraising is that before asking others to give, you should first donate yourself. Norma Cameron shows how the memory of one major gift you gave will give you comfort and confidence to be a better fundraiser. Here she tells the rather scary tale of her fundraising epiphany, inspired by something as simple as a collecting box.
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