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.
WWF Canada: welcome pack for new donors
by SOFII
Learn how to engage and retain your donors from this early example of a donor-centred welcome pack. This is a very good and highly copyable example of the genre. And, most noteworthy perhaps is that this pack has been structured and written around what the donor would want, not what the organisation wants.
Read moreCovenant House Alaska: ‘moustache march’
by SOFII
Covenant House helps homeless and runaway youth in Alaska. Moustache march, has brought new supporters to their cause, as well as raising much-needed funds.
Read moreChildren’s Wish Foundation: the power of a story
by SOFII
All nonprofits need to tell stories. Through storytelling you will build deeper connections with your supporters and, ultimately, raise more money for your cause.
Read moreThe power of benchmarking
by Jonathon Grapsas
How looking around at others can help you raise more money for your cause.
Read moreSorry, but you’re just not my type!
by Colin Wheildon
Typestyle and typefaces may seem unlikely fare for readers of SOFII opinion pieces but not so if you want to communicate effectively with your donors. It has been said that communication is the key to building donors’ trust and confidence.
Review by Ken Burnett.
Read moreConversion of a techno-sceptic
by Richard C McPherson
Only a few things in life are worth missing a flight for. I’d like to tell you about two of them. The first is merely amusing but the other, I think, you will find of more value. The first was only the second flight I’d missed, ever. It was going to Oslo, Norway, but I was stuck on London’s Hammersmith roundabout…
Review by Ken Burnett.
Read moreSit in a bath of baked beans, change the world
by Bilaal Rajan
There are too many people who assume children aren’t important and can’t do anything. Twelve year old Bilaal Rajan proves them all wrong. When I first had this book ‘assigned’ to me, I thought it would be some long, boring book on fundraising. This is not the case…
Reviewed for SOFII by Skye MacKenzie.
Read moreBad Ad - Greenpeace Portugal: the unfortunate example of the reversed out coupon
by SOFII
We love this, but sympathise greatly with its creator, whoever he or she might be. If you know anything about this ad, please share your information …
Read moreThe 11 pillars of fundraising wisdom – plus the five assumptions that underpin effective fundraising
by Ken Burnett
In this noisy, brash and insincere world, how can fundraisers and their organisations stand out and be understood when much of the ground we would occupy is not our exclusive preserve? Indeed, our traditional territory tends to be crowded with other occupants who also posture, to the same audiences we wish to inspire, as ‘socially concerned’ and ‘worthwhile’, so we nonprofits have to struggle to be distinctive and different.
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