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.
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?
Read moreWhy have a board?
by Simone Joyaux
You have to have a board. That’s what the law says. Any other reason? Well, having a board really does add value – more value than just raising or giving money.
Read moreInvolving your board members in fundraising, part one
by Simone Joyaux
Sometimes it’s a struggle to get the board to carry out its fundraising role. Often it’s even harder to get individual members to participate; even if they understand their roles, they don’t want to do ‘that fundraising stuff’.
Read more‘No sale’ video from Oxfam
by Tom Belford
I’m a sucker for online videos to deliver important messages and sell causes and charities. But this one from Oxfam is a ‘no sale’ as far as I’m concerned.
Read moreWhat do you think of this three-part website donate button?
by SOFII
Three buttons, or one? Or two, four or more?
How should we use website giving to engage donors?
Read moreVerity 14: you have a quality of leadership
by Jerold Panas
Something quite distinctive is in evidence in everyone who is successful in fundraising. There is a special quality of leadership.
Read moreEmotionomics: Leveraging Emotions for Business Success
by Dan Hill
‘The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter’, said the Roman philosopher Cicero. It is so much more eloquent than ‘facial coding’. Yet this core of Dan Hill’s Emotionomics could be extremely important to your fundraising.
Reviewed for SOFII by Charlie Hulme.
Read moreHow to harness the power of celebrity to your cause
by Alex Goldup
Could finding a celebrity supporter sprinkle a little stardust on your fundraising? Or is it just a waste of time? As with everything in life – and fundraising – it depends on how you go about it. Alex Goldrup gives some advice on how to do it properly.
Read moreVerity 13: you inspire others to action.
by Jerold Panas
A fundraising programme or project must be pursued with inspiration by the fundraiser.
Read moreA very angry anagram, nudge, nudge, wink, wink
by Andrew Papworth
It is by no means unknown for me to be critical about Greenpeace’s advertising – particularly its tendency towards confrontational belligerence and its lack of any sense of humour.
Read moreSOFII’s February must-reads
by Pamela Grow & Craig Linton
Here you’ll find 2014’s first list of articles that you must read if you are going to keep up with all the top tips, opinion and news in our wonderful world of fundraising.
Read moreThe Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications
by Jeff Brooks
It’s a virtual truism that each generation of copywriters and fundraisers must fight the same battles over and over again. Boards, CEOs, fundraisers change, but the DNA ain’t improving. Now the cavalry has arrived. Enter Jeff Brooks and his new book. At a time when too many pay lip service to becoming ‘donor-centric’ but fail to put it into practice, Jeff gives us the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of creating copy that puts the donor first and foremost.
Reviewed for SOFII by Roger Craver.
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