Foundations of Fundraising
Fundraising in the First World War: how the fundraising ground force made a difference
by Tony Charalambides
Asking someone in your immediate vicinity for monetary help is as elementary as fundraising gets. More often than not, it’s as effective as it gets too – which is why it pops up throughout history. Fundraising during the First World War was no different.
Read moreFundraising for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal
by SOFII
Without the inspiration of Joseph Pulitzer who inspired 120,000 ordinary New Yorkers to donate a huge number of small donations, the 150ft tall Statue of Liberty would not be standing today on New York’s harbour.
Read moreFundraising in the First World War: fighting the good fight
by Tony Charalambides
Fundraising and charitable volunteering is a rather under-reported component of Britain’s war effort during the First World Ward, says Tony Charalambides, but it had an enormous impact on its outcome.
Read moreBen Horowitz of the City of Hope
by Rich Fox
Rich Fox met Ben Horowitz 39 years ago and he says he has never known a better fundraising mind before or since. Here Rich explains this brilliant fundraiser's philosophy for success.
WaterAid: The Big Dig
by Reuben Turner
A very fine example of how storytelling, done right, can change the world. Isn’t the infographic just great? (SOFII loves the crossed legs). This campaign is fun, innovative, engaging, emotional (imagine how you’d feel with no toilet…) and highly effective as, inevitably, real storytelling in real time was bound to be. Altogether brilliant.
Read moreSOFII: the BIG questions
by SOFII
How do we make donors feel really special? And how do they want to see us?
Read moreHow the suffragettes became one of the most successful brands ever
by Aline Reed
You might be surprised to know that one of the most successful branding exercises ever was performed by the first suffragettes in Britain. They were, of course, notorious for their demonstrations of bravery, but also for the splendid ways they raised huge amounts of money to promote equality for women everywhere. One woman was so inspired that she donated £1000 a year – £80,000 in today’s value, to be paid until women were given the vote. You’ll find out lots more here.
Read moreThe National Trust: recruiting members by the millions
by Aline Reed
The story of Octavia Hill, an amazing fundraiser and co-founder of the highly successful and respected National Trust.
Read moreMotor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA): John’s journey
by SOFII
This story is powerful, inspiring, direct, humbling and honest.
Read moreThe Absent-Minded Beggar: bigger than Band Aid?
by Aline Reed
The first-ever fundraising song? If you thought Band Aid was the first fundraising song ever, this’ll surprise you. Aline Reed has been digging around in the past and discovered a much earlier version created by a rather illustrious team – Rudyard Kipling and Sir Arthur Sullivan (without Gilbert this time). It’s not exactly rock and roll, but did raise the equivalent today of £25 million.
Read moreGiving Scotland: crisis campaign
by SOFII
The Giving Scotland campaign was launched in the face of intense scrutiny of charities in Scotland but this courageous campaign changed everything.
Read moreBreakthrough: the ‘is this justice’ campaign
by SOFII
This is a brave campaign that fearlessly speaks out against social injustice in societies where such issues are rarely discussed, far less confronted.
Read more
