The direct mail, door drops and household deliveries showcase
Congratulations! You’ve just found the world’s best and biggest collection of fundraising direct mail, right here on sofii.org. There are more than 160 detailed case histories and articles here for you to learn from, crib from, adapt or copy. And lots more besides. Enjoy!
Click here for the full contents and index for SOFII’s direct mail showcase.
The summary report of the Commission on the Donor Experience into direct mail fundraising can be found here.
Direct mail clinics – Introduction and contents
by Joanna Culling
Welcome to the Agents of Good (AOG) free direct mail clinics. These 11 useful video lessons offer you tried and tested tips that will make your direct mail appeals more engaging and effective. Please explore all the clinics and share them widely with your fundraising friends.
Read moreDirect mail clinic #2 – Envelopes
by Carolina Herrera
In this direct mail clinic, John Lepp asks you to (please!) turn your attention to envelopes. They are one of the most misunderstood and often ignored parts of a fundraising appeal, but your envelope is key to ensuring a donor opens your pack and engages with what you have to say.
Read moreDirect mail clinic #3 – How do humans make decisions?
by Carolina Herrera
Why are so many fundraisers talking about decision science? In this clinic, John Lepp explains that understanding what drives donor decisions is key to improving your direct mail appeals. It is a great place to start on your decision science journey, so watch this clinic and get to know how you can apply these techniques to your next campaign.
Read moreDirect mail clinic #4 – What goes in the box?
by Carolina Herrera
You probably know what goes in a direct marketing fundraising appeal, but do you know why each piece is there? And do you know why making simple changes to those pieces can have an impact on the success of your campaign? John Lepp has these answers and more, in his next direct mail clinic.
Read moreDirect mail clinic #5 – A letter autopsy
by Carolina Herrera
How confident are you in your letter writing? Are you looking for some useful tips before you write your next appeal? In clinic five, John takes on fundraising letters and shares some simple, effective tricks that will help you engage with your donors and raise more money.
Read moreCamp Oochigeas: Mid-value direct mail appeal
by John Lepp
An effective direct mail appeal is a wonderful opportunity to have an emotional conversation with your donors – as well as a chance for you to raise vital funds for your cause. This masterclass in direct mail has everything you need to craft your next engaging, target-busting direct mail pack.
Read moreDogs Trust: ‘Home from Home’ direct mail appeal
by Amber Gerrard-Maxwell
This bright, bold and compelling fundraising campaign from Dogs Trust exceeded all expectations. With a record number of dogs in need of homes, the ‘Home from Home’ appeal raised vital funds to expand the charity’s foster caring network. It smashed its targets and saved many dogs who had nowhere else to go.
Read moreSt. Patrick’s Home of Ottawa Foundation: ‘One Song’ direct mail
by John Lepp
This warm direct mail appeal has it all. Using great copy and simple and effective design, the appeal begins a beautiful conversation with each donor. Unsurprisingly, the results and emotional responses from supporters of St. Pat’s prove that taking time to craft a special appeal can really pay off. Dive in and get inspired before writing your next appeal.
Read moreNational Trust for Scotland: ROOTS regular giving campaign
by Joe Nicholson
For membership organisations, recruiting regular givers isn’t always easy – but with a beautiful new regular giving product, the National Trust for Scotland certainly succeeded.
Read moreMennonite Central Committee Canada: Tigray, Ethiopia crisis appeal
by BuildGood
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada wanted to help refugees of the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia, but they’d only just finished an appeal for victims of the war in Ukraine. Would their kind donors be willing to give again so soon? Find out what happened next, here.
Read moreRainforest Rescue: ‘You can help build the Daintree’s largest nursery’
by Karl Tischler
Discover how a small but visionary environmental charity exceeded all expectations when it came to both fundraising and planting more trees.
Read moreMeals on Wheels San Francisco: ‘Deliver Hope’ Giving Tuesday appeal
by Clay Buck
Clay Buck was vaguely sceptical about Giving Tuesday, but then a campaign came along that changed his mind. It took the Giving Tuesday ethos and turned it into something very special – and here’s how.
Read more
