A strange, old-fashioned plea for respect

by George Smith

In this latest article George Smith doesn’t mean that all fundraising is nice and all advertising nasty. He does mean that advertising is generally pretty silly and that fundraising is pretty damned important. And we fundraisers would do well to dwell on the difference.

Making cancer cute

by Jeff Brooks

The ad agency has struck again with this strikingly stupid nonprofit ad. The victim...

World’s shortest stupid nonprofit ad

by Jeff Brooks

Sorry if this series offends. It’s meant to provoke, challenge the blinkered and encourage improvement. And its author Jeff Brooks could have said, the world’s stupidest short nonprofit ad. It’s difficult to see how anyone imagined this ad would be a good idea. Well, actually, it’s difficult to see, period. As Jeff says, ‘Get real…’

How to advertise for funds off-the-page. Part 1

by Andrew Papworth

Papworth’s principles of press advertising

Part 1: How fundraising ads work

Nonprofits and segmenting for effective communication: a new infographic

by Jay Love & Steven Shattuck

Segmenting your communications to donors is a great way to help you keep them. A recent survey highlights how charities are using segmentation – if at all. How does your organisation match up?

How effective are your board members?

by Simone Joyaux

There’s a big difference between the board and its board members. Remember that the board does corporate governance – and that only happens when the board is together at meetings. Corporate governance is a collective act.

Which of our ads will work best, where, when and why?

by John Caples

‘I have seen one mail-order advertisement actually sell not twice as much, not three times as much but nineteen and a half times as much merchandise as another ad for the same product. Both were run in the same publication. Both had photographic illustrations. Both had carefully written copy. The difference was that one used the right appeal and the other used the wrong appeal.’



So said the legendary John Caples. Is that worth knowing? You bet. Read our review of a timeless fundraising classic here.

Reviewed for SOFII by Ken Burnett. 

A true story about perception, taste and priorities

by Marie Burnett

This isn’t actually my story, I received it in one of those emails that periodically do the rounds. You might have too. I was amazed when I read it and immediately went straight to Google to find out if it had really happened.

Doing good with Dundee cakes

by George Smith

If fundraising was left to village fetes, the voluntary sector would be a nicer, if poorer, place.

SOFII’s April must-reads

by Pamela Grow & Craig Linton

It’s amazing how much is going on in fundraising. But when you’re busy it can be hard to find the best blogs and articles. Relax, let SOFII do the work. Just click here and you’ll find all the latest news, opinions and top tips that will really help you in your work.

Verity 15: you understand that every grand opportunity is simply masquerading as a problem, a mystery waiting to be solved.

by Jerold Panas

If you don’t understand the problem, then explain it to someone and listen to yourself discussing it.

What do you talk about at your board meetings?

by Simone Joyaux

Wait! Don’t answer that yet. Instead, let’s start at the very beginning: what is the purpose of a board?