Royal National Lifeboat Institution: ‘boots’ advertisement

by SOFII

The shopping list is a classic fundraiser's device and this ad exploits the instrument to its full, offering the donor, in effect, the chance to kit out his or her hero.

Kay Sprinkel Grace: America's doyenne of board excellence and mission development.

by Christiana Stergiou

Kay Sprinkel Grace is a dreamer, a big picture fundraiser. This, along with her special way with words, has made her one of the great fundraisers of our time.

How to grow income rapidly, at a reasonable cost, retaining donor loyalty along the way

by Ken Burnett

In Relationship Fundraising, the classic read for all fundraisers, Ken Burnett takes us carefully through the fundamentals of good fundraising. Ken reminds us that a unique relationship exists between donors and the causes they support, and shows us how to preserve and develop that relationship.

Review by Neil Sloggie.

Youthreach: ‘if I were rain’ publishing for a good cause

by SOFII

This book poignantly captures how children retain their intelligence and innocence despite the most trying circumstances. This book transforms lives. And raises money too.

Steel Yard: ‘fund a day’ appeal

by SOFII

Every now and then we see great fundraising ideas that can be easily adapted and adopted by other nonprofit organisations, particularly smaller ones. This example is particularly useful as it shows a small organisation raising money imaginatively to cover its general running costs.

Ken Burnett’s two great stories.

by Ken Burnett

Here are two grainy, shaky but very inspiring stories; Gabriella’s new feet and The worst tourist in the world.

Anatomy of the Wishing Well Appeal. Part 1.

by Marion Allford

The overall fundraising strategy

Anatomy of the Wishing Well Appeal. Part 2.

by Marion Allford

MARION ALLFORD LOOKS BACK – 20 YEARS AFTER. I have often been asked why the Wishing Well Appeal achieved such a wide response. I believe it was due to the deep affection many people feel for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital; and the detailed planning and sophisticated marketing techniques used to communicate the fact that the hospital was in trouble. We needed the public to know that, without their active help with fundraising, the hospital's future could have been in jeopardy.

The Dogs Trust: sponsor a dog scheme, television commercials

by SOFII

These television commercials are really part of the Dogs Trust sponsor a dog exhibit but they show such good use of DRTV they are worth an additional airing here. Unusually for nonprofit DRTV in the United Kingdom these ads made a profit from their first showing. Quite exceptionally, the early ads achieved a return on investment of five to one.

Dr Barnardo’s Homes: the home collecting box

by Ken Burnett

The home collecting box remains many people’s closest link with charitable giving. Some collecting boxes are themselves collector’s items.

Islamic Aid: fundraising strategy

by SOFII

This is the story of how Islamic Aid has managed to raise millions, beyond all expectations. The charity achieved this through the careful targeting of its audience, by keeping good records of all its donors and ensuring that every donation is maximised through Gift Aid.

British Heart Foundation: the ‘calculate the cost of heart disease’ mailing

by SOFII

This is irresistible. How could any cost-conscious businessman or woman resist playing with this gadget to get an idea of what heart disease is costing his or her bottom line each year?