Foundations of Fundraising
Dr Barnardo’s Homes: how the death of Carrots led to a powerful slogan, from 1866
by SOFII
The death of a lonely young boy led Dr Barnardo to declare that the children’s homes that bore his name should never, ever close their doors to any child. A great example of fine writing combined with sincerity.
Read moreWaterAid’s plastic bag mailing
by SOFII
Every day in developing countries thousands of women (mainly) face the difficult task of fetching and carrying water from its source to their homes. It’s a gruelling daily duty most donors would find very hard to imagine. Could this concept be applied imaginatively to a fundraising appeal? Of course it could!
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters from 1960, letter 22
by SOFII
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to bring you all these letters from that master of direct mail letter-writing, Bruce Barton. But, as the infamous ‘they’ say, ‘all good things must come to an end’. Yes, this is the last SOFII has. But, of course, as they also say, ‘the glass is half full’, so maybe there are more out there that will find their way to SOFII.
Read more15 things I would do if I were the new head of donor development, part 2
by Ken Burnett
These 15 strategies aren’t the only things I’d do. They may not even be the most urgent things I’d do, or even the most important. But they are the things I’d do that I think would have the most lasting impact, that would make the most difference to converting my imaginary donor development department from the under-funded, misunderstood appendage to the fundraising function that I found on joining the organization, into the finely honed, high-earning core activity that I’d like to leave behind me when, in the fullness of time, I move on to pastures new (you have to indulge me a little here, in this fantasy).
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters from 1957 and 1958, letters 20 and 21
by SOFII
Bruce Barton’s letters are all about the donors’ achievements, so are welcome news packed with flattery and tales of selflessness and fine motives.
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters from 1956 and 1957, letters 18 and 19
by SOFII
There’s no trickery in these letters, no artifice, no phoney PSs. Just direct, honest talking put in such an endearing and charming way as to become irresistible for those recipients who share the writer’s enthusiasm for Deerfield Academy and his passionate belief that it should give the best education possible to its students.
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters from 1955 and 1956, letters 16 and 17
by SOFII
A four-year gap between Bruce Barton's letters for Deerfield Academy in no way diminished his exceptional capacity for penning a powerful appeal. Read, reflect and recycle, for there is real treasure here.
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters from 1951, letter 15
by SOFII
With all the usual captivation and craftsmanship of a classic Bruce Barton letter, this provides a very valuable lesson in donor care from 60 years ago that is just as relevant today.
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters from the turn of the 1950s, letters 12, 13 and 14
by SOFII
It's a delight now to add letters 12, 13 and 14 to this growing SOFII series featuring legendary writer Bruce Barton's brilliantly conversational direct mail letters for Deerfield Academy.
Read moreDeerfield Academy: Bruce Barton’s fundraising letters for letters 9, 10 and 11, from 1948 and 1949
by SOFII
Reporting back, storytelling and irresistible offers – more fundraising gems from Bruce Barton.
Read more15 things I would do if I were the new head of donor development, part 1
by Ken Burnett
This list came about when a US journal for fundraisers asked me to imagine I’d just started in a new job, with a clean slate and sufficient resources to set about transforming the donor development function. It’s included here to help anyone in an even vaguely similar situation. And to help me set out my philosophy of donor development.
Read moreITIHAS (I Think I Have a Solution) leadership workshop
by SOFII
If you want to find new angles on fundraising, SOFII has long been an advocate of keeping a close eye on what’s happening in India.
Read more