Foundations of Fundraising
Mo-tivations. Why (oh why) am I doing it? And why would you support me?
by Matthew Sherrington
‘You’ll be cool. A dad of teenage daughters will do anything to hear himself described like that. Anything,’ says Matthew Sherrington who listened, faced his fears and grew a ‘mo’ for prostate cancer. But what were the other six motivations that he thinks make people do something for a charity that they know little about? Find out here.
Read moreDavid Love rocks!
by Gwen Chapman
Introducing Canada’s David Love – passionate fundraiser, donor and donor advocate, pioneer and influential mentor. Forever young and a true living legend of fundraising.
Read moreThe collection: it’s never too late to do something wonderful.
by Ken Burnett
A new fundraising experience for less-than-new fundraiser Ken Burnett: rattling a bucket on behalf of Syrian refugees. Read how he met some interesting people, raised some money and learned that truly it’s never too late to do something wonderful.
Read moreGreenpeace’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.
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