Foundations of Fundraising
The 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 moreAmnesty International press advertisement - North Korea’s death camps
by Ken Burnett
A challenge. Start reading. If you make it to the end you’ll know what to do next.
Read moreBhopal Medical Appeal: press advertisements
by Indra Sinha
On one awful night in 1984 the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, India exploded sending clouds of poisonous gas across the city that would kill tens of thousands of people and inflict misery and suffering on future generations. Thus began the Bhopali people’s search for justice and treatment, which led to the founding of the BMA, whose advertisements have become the symbols of a crime that, more than 25 years later, still inflicts unimaginable suffering and still goes unpunished. The Bhopal Medical Appeal campaigns to change this, through its fundraising.
Read moreCPAR: ‘plant a tree in Ethiopia’ mailing
by SOFII
Ethiopia has to be one of the most difficult fundraising markets in the world. Yet this pack produced results that most more sophisticated fundraisers can only dream of.
Read moreMagic moments: The founding of Cripplegate Foundation and North London Cares
by Aline Reed & Ken Burnett
There is a lot going on in this addition to SOFII’s founding magic moments. It has a wonderful ghost story and is a great example of a consistent donor relationship that has lasted over 500 years. And it shows how philanthropy moves on, changes and can help younger organisations do the same.
Read moreRyton Gardens: recyclable mailing
by SOFII
Ryton Garden’s famous recyclable mailing is one of the best ever examples of the benefits fundraisers can realise when they show that they really understand their donors.
Read moreHow effective are your board members?
by Simone Joyaux
There’s a big difference between the board and its board members. Remember that the board does corporate governance – and that only happens when the board is together at meetings. Corporate governance is a collective act.
Read moreWhat do you talk about at your board meetings?
by Simone Joyaux
Wait! Don’t answer that yet. Instead, let’s start at the very beginning: what is the purpose of a board?
Read moreWhy have a board?
by Simone Joyaux
You have to have a board. That’s what the law says. Any other reason? Well, having a board really does add value – more value than just raising or giving money.
Read moreInvolving your board members in fundraising, part one
by Simone Joyaux
Sometimes it’s a struggle to get the board to carry out its fundraising role. Often it’s even harder to get individual members to participate; even if they understand their roles, they don’t want to do ‘that fundraising stuff’.
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