The Fundraiser’s Toolbox

You know that fundraising is hard work. To be successful you need to be well equipped to take on all its challenges. At SOFII, we thought you might like some help. So we’ve put together this fundraiser’s toolbox that we’ll be filling with essential examples, formats, articles, case studies, ideas and tips that we think every fundraiser should know about.

From the Myth Smashers: ‘Fundraising isn’t a serious profession’

by Victoria Andrews

‘To call us a not for profit is a disservice and to say fundraising isn’t a real job, is simply not true.’ From the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s exceptional Myth Smashers session comes this impassioned deflation of that most pernicious of myths - that fundraising isn’t a profession.

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The BADASSforGOOD podcast. Episodes six to ten.‘I might just ruffle a few feathers’

by R. Trent Thompson

Mr Badass is back! We bring you five more short, sharp and provocative podcasts from R. Trent Thompson that will transform how you think about your non-profit brand and the impact it makes.

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George Smith: the art of creative fundraising - ‘Give us your money – or the panda gets it!’

by George Smith

In 1992, George Smith predicted a sea change in the development of the fundraising profession, with deference and royal reverence to be a thing of the past. Was he right? Read his reasoning and decide for yourself.

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SOFII’s September must-reads

by Craig Linton and Pamela Grow

SOFII heroes Pamela Grow and Craig Linton have trawled the Internet to pick out the finest fundraising fruits of September.

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The A to Z of writing fundraising appeals: T to Z

by Steve Lynch

Words of wisdom, notions of tone and urgency and the central importance of YOU - all are covered in this last entry in Steve Lynch’s A to Z of writing fundraising appeals.

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The A to Z of writing fundraising appeals: M to S

by Steve Lynch

We bring you part three of copywriter Steve Lynch’s superb A to Z, exploring everything from the value of a good slogan to lessons taken from his mother and George Orwell. Stay tuned for T to Z, coming soon.

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The A to Z of writing fundraising appeals: G to L

by Steve Lynch

From grammar to the length of fundraising copy via important takes on jargon, headlines and even Rudyard Kipling, Bluefrog’s Steve Lynch continues to take a fun and informative linguistic foray through fundraising essentials.

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SOFII’s July must-reads

by Craig Linton and Pamela Grow

Do you know how to properly thank your donors? Does your copywriting need a boost? Do you want to tap into the potential of gaming? Would you like to read an inspirational and emotional piece of storytelling? All these questions and many, many more are addressed in this month’s collection of SOFII must-reads from Pamela Grow and Craig Linton.

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From the Myth Smashers: The myth of the ‘rational donor’

by Alice Anwar

In the first presentation from Myth Smashers, an I Wish I’d Thought Of That (IWITOT)-inspired event that takes place every year down under, Alice Anwar of CARE Australia explores the myth of donor rationality and asks, ‘can the head and the heart ever be friends’?

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Meet the fundraising Myth Smashers

by Joe Burnett

SOFII shares the winning presentations from Myth Smashers, Fundraising Institute of Australia’s IWITOT-inspired event. These young fundraisers each shine a light on dispiriting fundraising myths and show how they can be overcome.

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Introducing the wisdom of Jerry Huntsinger

by Gwen Chapman

Jerry Huntsinger is the dean of direct mail fundraising. Now, just for you, he is sharing his wisdom here, in the unique Jerry Huntsinger tutorials.

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Jerry Huntsinger: 80-years young

by Gwen Chapman

Jerry Huntsinger celebrated his eightieth birthday in July 2013. Since 1965, there has never been a year when he hasn’t had at least one control package being mailed nationally by a major nonprofit organisation. What an achievement.

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