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.
Violent video explodes nonprofit’s reputation
by Jeff Brooks
Jeff Brooks identifies not just a bad advert but, in his view, an evil one. He argues that this aberration has done lasting damage to the charity’s cause and reputation. Agree or disagree – what do you think?
A number of people have asked if I planned to feature this short film produced for climate change charity 10:10 in this bad nonprofit ad showcase.
Read moreDisaster fundraising at its worst
by Jeff Brooks
After the earthquake in Haiti, it didn’t take long for the bad fundraising messages to crawl out of the woodwork. Here's an example of run-amok abstractionism, from the People of The United Methodist Church. I’m guessing that they had some help from an ad agency on this one. Who else could have screwed up such a simple and compelling message?
Read moreAn ad that unplugs a flood of nonprofit stupidity
by Jeff Brooks
This effort from the Canadian Red Cross shows how an ad writer can get things hopelessly wrong.
Read moreThis ad accuses repressive governments of absent-mindedness
by Jeff Brooks
As with other bad nonprofit ads, the question is this: why resort to abstraction when the truth itself is so powerful?
Read moreGarbage in, garbage out
by Jeff Brooks
Oh dear, oh dear, here’s an award-winning ad that has lost the point entirely. The young people featured make it seem they think fundraising is a bigger enemy than poverty. I’m sure they didn’t mean it – or did they?
Read moreStupid misconception about the inner lives of children
by Jeff Brooks
According to Jeff Brooks the slogan ‘it’s easy to convince children that killing is a game’ is breathtakingly false and the premise of this ad is an insanely ill-conceived visual metaphor.
Read moreAsking the biggest questions of all
by Andrew Papworth
Do you agree when Andrew Papworth says that the British Humanist Association ad here shows muddled thinking and poor execution?
Read moreWhat a tangled web we weave when we try to win awards
by Jeff Brooks
Is Jeff Brooks right when he says that these ads are just fishing for awards? SOFII would love to know what you think.
Read moreTelephone fundraising, part 3: designing and delivering a campaign
by Bethan Holloway
The third – and last for the time being – article on telephone fundraising from Bethan Holloway explains how to design and deliver a campaign.
Read moreFive steps to creating corporate partnerships
by Remarkable Partnerships
Have you seen the little woolly hats on top of Innocent smoothies and thought that’s brilliant? Or perhaps you’ve bought a packet of Pampers that includes a donation to UNICEF?
Read moreEven for a charity there’s no such thing as a free lunch
by Ken Burnett
At least, not without some reciprocity.
Read moreDonate now - make a difference to the world and feel great about it.
by SOFII
Donate now - make a difference to the world and feel great about it.
Read more