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.
Just the facts on legacy giving
by Mal Warwick
Rumour has it that legacy gifts account for as much as one-third of the philanthropic income of charities in the UK, or at least of the largest ones. Whether or not that’s an accurate estimate, it’s clear to all observers that legacies account for a far larger share of charitable revenue in the British Isles than they do elsewhere.
Read moreThe inconvenient truth about corporate fundraising
by Sean Triner
Have you ever questioned the corporate/community ‘love-in’ line that we are often fed by a variety of media, fundraising commentators and corporate enterprises themselves? Corporate philanthropy, triple bottom line, corporate social responsibility – call it what you will, I know I do – is not what many crank it up to be.
Read moreHow to increase your appeal results by up to 40 per cent
by Sean Triner
This multiple bullet point plan is for all fundraisers who want to boost earnings from their next appeal mailing or emailing. Follow these simple steps and you’ll find you can increase your net income substantially, for relatively small effort.
Read moreHow Twitter can transform your fundraising
by Marc Pitman
Twitter is a great free tool that can transform your fundraising. And in a time of economic uncertainty, a free tool is a welcome help.
Read moreJob-speak: a user’s guide
by George Smith
And now from the incomparable George Smith: an expose of all that is nonsense in recruitment ads from charities. Are you guilty of the ‘booming vocative’?
Read moreEleven tips to run a really good creative ideas session
by Lucy Gower
Lucy Gower from the NSPCC, gives you the low-down on how, with a little effort and planning, you can ensure that your creative sessions are truly inspirational.
Read moreMake an elevator speech that works
by Tom Ahern
Fundraising and communications professional, Tom Ahern, explains the technique he uses to get fundraisers really thinking about the essence of their pitch.
Read moreA creative brief for fundraisers: why it matters, and how it can help you raise more money
by Lisa Sargent
This creative brief comes courtesy of Lisa Sargent, principal at Sargent Communications, LLC in the USA.
Read moreWhat’s in a phone script?
by Joe White
Veteran telephone fundraising specialist, Joe White, critiques three real examples of phone scripts. With as many as 70 per cent of calls ending in failure to secure further commitment, you need to know what you should be doing to increase your chances of success.
Read moreResults from the International Gift Planning Survey
by Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf
Earlier this week Charity Village published a cover story on their initiative with GiveGreen Canada, the legacies survey report. It contains some interesting and even startling conclusions about the state of legacies promotion among nonprofits worldwide. We have re-produced the article on our site for you to read.
Read moreGraphic design style guide with examples
by Julia Reich
Ever wondered which logo you’re supposed to use from the many, ever-so slightly different versions saved on your database? Ever wondered if it really matters? It does; and design consultant Julia Reich is here to tell you why.
Read moreHow to be a fundraising hedgehog
by Damian O’Broin
We first published this entry in SOFII’s blog in 2013. We’re not only reproducing it here because we love the title, but also because the answer to the three challenging questions Damian O’Broin poses will be an important tool for the future of fundraising for your charity. And when you’ve found the one thing that can answer all three then you’ve got yourself a hedgehog. So now you just need to read Damian’s article to find out what to do with it...
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