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.

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The 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.

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The 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.

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The 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. 

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The 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. 

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The 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?

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The 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. 

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The 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.

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The 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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