How I wrote it: Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s multimedia, email and video

by Jonathon Grapsas

So far in the ‘how I wrote it’ series, we have focused on the traditional form of campaigning. In other words, packages only using the written word. Here we look at a communication package that uses multimedia, email and video.

Here Jonathon Grapsas talks to Fergal about his work for the charity Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Jonathon is based in Australia where he works for a number of local charities.

Breve historia del fundraising en España

by Alhelí Quintanilla

La captación de fondos comenzó en España en los años 60, con iniciativas como el Día de la Banderita, los sorteos especiales de Lotería o los mercadillos de beneficencia. Este tipo de fundraising puntual se asociaba sobre todo a iniciativas caritativas impulsadas por la iglesia Católica, principal beneficiaria por tradición de la generosidad de los españoles, que contaba con la ayuda de una legión de voluntarios. Lee mas aquí.

How to fail to motivate your audience to take action

by Nancy Schwarz

This campaign using print ads from from Action Against Hunger (AAH) is a great example of how to fail to motivate your audiences to take action that will benefit your cause.

Brilliant donor care: 15 steps to make sure your organisation gets it right

by Jonathon Grapsas

Before I launch into some tangible ways to improve the way you deal with donors, let me preface this by looking at the current climate. Just how are charities in different parts of the world interacting with donors on a daily basis?

How I wrote it: the Amnesty pen letter

by Fergal Byrne & Karin Weatherup

In this, the ninth in a series of interviews with leading fundraising writers, Karin Weatherup talks to Fergal Byrne about the legendary Amnesty pen letter she wrote for Amnesty International – the pack was Amnesty UK’s banker for 10 years or more and was copied or adapted by many Amnesty International sections around the world.

How I wrote it: the Salvation Army UK’s first large-scale cold mailing

by Pauline Lockier

In this, the fifth of a series of interviews with leading fundraising writers, Pauline Lockier talks to Fergal Byrne about a fundraising appeal letter written for the Salvation Army in 1990 which subsequently became their control for eight years. In this conversation Pauline tells Fergal how she wrote the letter and what really matters in making sure this kind of letter is a success.

In search of baubles

by George Smith

Now, as part of SOFII’s continued commitment to fine writing we further celebrate the brilliance, wit and wisdom of George Smith with a series of articles taken from his last book, Up Smith Creek. We start with a seasonal article that first appeared in Professional Fundraising magazine in February, 1997 – and it’s just as relevant today.

Nonprofit stories that inspire

by Larry Wilson

‘Do you have any idea what an M-16 rifle does to a child at close range?’

How I wrote it: Mal Warwick on his letter for the Union of Concerned Scientists

by Fergal Byrne & Mal Warwick

A new interview from Fergal Byrne gives a fascinating insight into a master fundraiser at work: Mal Warwick. In it he describes how he wrote the letter that, in one form or another, was used to recruit new supporters for the Union of Concerned Scientists in the USA over many years.

Supporter surveys: what do your supporters really think?, part 3

by Jonathon Grapsas

The final part of a three-part analysis of the benefits of annual supporter surveys.

Changing the world is the only fit work for a grown man

by Fergal Byrne

Changing the world is the only fit work for a grown man: the story of Howard Luck Gossage, an adman who hated the ‘mad men’ and the hard sell campaigns they produced.

‘I have a complaint to make’

by Andrew Papworth

The Fundraising Standards Board in the UK recently published the 2011 complaints report and, according to Andrew Papworth, it makes very interesting reading. This is an article about complaints in the UK. Could it apply to fundraising where you are?