The wit and wisdom of George Smith
If you haven’t heard of the late, great George Smith then this showcase is for you. Even if you have heard of George then it’s still for you because his words continue to teach fundraisers lessons, years and even decades after he first wrote them. From his seminal book Asking Properly to his years as head of an agency, George was a powerhouse of modern fundraising and a truly great writer. We are delighted to be able to collate a selection of his thoughts in this showcase.
The wit and wisdom of George Smith - Introduction and contents
by Joe Burnett
Joe Burnett introduces a new series on SOFII featuring the wit and wisdom of legendary fundraising guru and master wordsmith, George Smith.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Seriously, let’s be silly
by George Smith
When writing his regular article back in 1993, George Smith mused on how we use language, the dangers of taking opinions as gospel, and why it’s good to be silly.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Où est le chat?
by George Smith
Are you a chatty bleeder? The great George Smith certainly was and in this funny article he tells the truth about what the chattiest direct marketers have on the brain.
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 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 moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Why shame the punters when you can threaten them?
by George Smith
In this new entry to our series by the great writer, George Smith tackles the 'aggressive' tactics used by direct marketers.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Let’s be conventional
by George Smith
How should one go about navigating the perilous world of conventions, symposia and workshops? Here's the answer, brought to you by fundraising legend George Smith.
Read moreThe wit and wisdom of George Smith - Good: the case for a re-launch
by George Smith
In a prescient excerpt from Up Smith Creek, George Smith muses on the concept of doing good and we should triumph over evil in increasingly cynical times.
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