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.
United Negro College Fund: David Ogilvy’s letter

by SOFII
Go back in time to meet one of the commuters who, in 1968, found this superb letter from David Ogilvy on the seat of the train taking him home to his comfortable New York suburb.
Read moreUniversity of Leeds: the calendar appeal
by SOFII
Another excellent mail appeal from the University of Leeds that carries on the successful theme of alumni sharing their experiences and memories of their time at the University.
Read moreThe Royal Flying Doctor Service, Victoria: direct mail to buy a jet

by SOFII
This award-winning mailing certainly caught the eye of donors – donations received soared passed their target. The newsletter must have been especially good – 750 people gave again even though they hadn't been asked.
Read moreUniversity of Leeds: direct mail cash appeal to alumni

by SOFII
The direct mail appeal that raised more in 12 weeks than the University had raised in their previous eight years of sending mail appeals.
Read moreEverything you need to know about the annual appeal letter. Made easy.
by Jay Love & Tom Ahern
In one simple infographic Tom Ahern and Jay Love tell you everything you need to know about the annual appeal letter.
Read moreCanadian Diabetes Association: Diabetes Summer Surge Campaign

by SOFII
This exhibit is an excellent example of how you can maximise the potential of your existing donors in an impressively short amount of time.
Read moreAudubon Society of Rhode Island: special recognition of long-time donors

by SOFII
The Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s superb care for their donors and courage in their approach have produced results that will be the envy of charitable organisations everywhere.
Read moreUniversity of Leeds: the memories appeal

by SOFII
This multi-channel ‘prospecting’ campaign from the University of Leeds enabled them to reach former students who had drifted away from their former university and exceeded its target by 56 per cent.
Read moreWSPA: the ‘big bear build’ and ‘big bear rescue’ appeals

by SOFII
This campaign clearly showed donors that they were highly valued by WSPA and that their support was making a difference. Having been on a journey with WSPA rescuing the captive bears since 2006, the donors were able to see the influence they had made as well as the change they could make possible now.
Read moreAction on Hearing Loss: put a gift in your will

by SOFII
Action on Hearing Loss has calculated that this legacy campaign is likely to generate around £2 million in the future.
Read moreSolarAid: ‘spread the light’ campaign

by SOFII
Have we all been so busy looking for ways to recruit donors that we are missing something obvious? This exhibit from a fairly new charity, SolarAid, has used the passion their donors feel for the cause to recruit their friends, neighbours and family to become donors to Solar Aid themselves.
Read moreHow 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.
Read more