Foundations of Fundraising
Greenpeace’s optimistic tick-box suggestion: the ‘Stop Thorp’ campaign court case mailing
by Carolina Herrera
This exhibit works on many levels. At first glance the reply form opposite looks innocuous enough but really it’s a brilliant illustration of how, in times of need, donors will respond warmly to help a cause when it is clearly in trouble.
Read moreMagic moments part one: how small beginnings inspire great causes
by Aline Reed & Ken Burnett
In this article Aline Reed and Ken Burnett describe some great founding moments – how small beginnings can inspire great causes.
Read moreAkshaya Patra, India: winners of an international competition to change the world
by SOFII
A prize-winning initiative from India. Akshaya Patra has, quite simply, set up the world's largest school feeding programme, providing more than one million school dinners every school day. This vast undertaking clearly has appeal to corporate donors, for it attracted the attention of American Express when they were running a competition to find projects that have real impact.
Read moreHoward Luck Gossage – the ‘mad man’ who changed the world
by Steve Harrison
A new addition to SOFII’s showcase on the great and the good: Howard Gossage. Never heard of him? Well, according to just one quote in this great article he‘…is the Velvet Underground to Ogilvy’s Beatles and Bernbach’s Stones.’ Find out more here.
Read moreUnited Negro College Fund: David Ogilvy’s letter
by SOFII
Go back in time to meet one of the commuters who, in 1968, found this superb letter from David Ogilvy on the seat of the train taking him home to his comfortable New York suburb.
Read moreSOFII stars: a selection from SOFII’s most read articles
by SOFII
To make your life easier here are direct links to 19 treasures from the best, most useful fundraising articles that feature in SOFII’s online reading rooms. There are lots more, just look.
Read moreAmnesty International UK: another ad that shook the nation
by SOFII
Newly added to SOFII’s archive of brilliant Amnesty ads from yesteryear is this shocking full page from the mid 1990s. Though distressing, it’s well worth reading and studying.
Read moreHow an egg McMuffin reminded me of the foundations of fundraising
by Derek Humphries
Recounting a mildly bizarre but uplifting encounter that was to involve not one, but two, popular fast-food snacks, Derek Humphries reminds us of the simple but firm foundations every truly compelling fundraising should be built on.
Read moreBuilding the fundraising dream team
by Ken Burnett
This addition to SOFII’s How to be an Effective Client showcase will help you assemble the team that’ll produce your next great fundraising campaign.
Read moreSOFII stars: treasures from IWITOT 2012
by SOFII
Here are links to 17 fundraising greats, 17 of the big ideas that were in the first I Wish I'd Thought of That mega-event in London 2012, at which young fundraisers described and illustrated a cornucopia of big ideas so good that they wish they'd had them, themselves.
Read moreSOFII stars: thank you, welcome and well done.
by SOFII
Saying thank you properly really is a golden opportunity for fundraisers. Here in this special edition of SOFII stars is all you need to know to make the most of it. Enjoy!
Read moreBrilliant donor care: 15 steps to make sure your organisation gets it right
by Jonathon Grapsas
Before I launch into some tangible ways to improve the way you deal with donors, let me preface this by looking at the current climate. Just how are charities in different parts of the world interacting with donors on a daily basis?
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