Foundations of Fundraising
George Harrison–Ravi Shankar Special Emergency Relief Fund: ‘Bangla Desh’ single
by SOFII
We bring you the under appreciated story of what just might have been the world’s first-ever charity pop song, courtesy of an ex-Beatle. Dive to learn more from this piece of our fundraising history – and listen to George Harrison’s song!
Read moreSimone Joyaux, campaigning fundraiser extraordinaire, has died
by Ken Burnett
SOFII has lost a great friend, a great fighter, an exemplary force for good.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Never sneer at an Oscar
by George Smith
Back in 1993, George Smith extolled the virtues of the now ubiquitous fundraising awards.
Read moreDirect marketing copy and the amazing power of fear
by Denny Hatch
Can fear be a primary motivating factor in direct mail? Denny Hatch certainly thinks so. In this blog Denny not only explains why, he also illustrates the point by analysing two remarkable letters.
Read moreThe Bata Shoes story
by Ken Burnett
In this article from his archive, SOFII founder Ken Burnett muses on how fundraisers should look at the world and our profession. He also draws unexpected inspiration from the number one shoe company in Africa.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Infantile musings
by George Smith
In a piece from 1997, George Smith reflects on how the joy of becoming a grandparent made him more altruistic, and why charities should tap into that well of happiness.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Instead of Help the Aged, let the aged help
by George Smith
‘A good proportion of one fifth of the population is loaded and leisured, financially secure and has quality time on its hands’ said George Smith. How can fundraisers tap into that potential?
Read moreA medieval ‘course’ in writing an appeal
by Mark Phillips
Do you think appeal writing is a recent science? Think again. In this article, Mark Phillips of Bluefrog Fundraising takes you all the way back to the Middle Ages.
Read moreCommunication and the English language
by Ken Burnett
Ken Burnett tackles bad use of the English language in fundraising and explains why getting this crucial matter right can make all the difference.
Read moreThe Olive Cooke story
by Ken Burnett
How the tragic case of Olive Cooke impacted the fundraising sector and led to radical change.
Read moreContradictory signs: as the corona-crisis continues, what’s really happening in fundraising?
by Ken Burnett
If most charities expect to do so badly during this pandemic, how come some are now doing much better than ever?
Read moreThe pandemic: where has fundraising been, where is it going and where should we be focusing now?
by Giles Pegram CBE
Help is at hand. A free online booklet and webinar are now available to help you deliver great fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic. And the advice all hinges on how to provide a superb supporter experience.
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