Ten tips to spur the creative grant proposal-writing process

by Pamela Grow

Pamela says: ‘Your final step should be a gracious letter to the foundation, thanking them for their time and their thorough review of your proposal. You’d be surprised at how few organisations take the time to thank the foundation.’

Plan International UK’s ‘prospecting’ campaign

by SOFII

Sampling has become the primary route for selling software, music and film. Could it be applied to child sponsorship, which is such a desirable ‘product’ for many charities?

Do it yourself fundraising

by Marc Pitman

Start-up nonprofits often ask me, ‘How do we raise money?’. The panic of making budget seems to make raising money impossible without knowing someone rich and famous like Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.

Greenpeace UK: the Rainbow Warrior III thank-you video

by SOFII

'...It was a really inspiring video and your generosity saying it was all of our ship was very moving.'

The British Humanist Association: the atheist bus campaign

by SOFII

This is a perfect match between a brilliant idea that generates real public interest and the technology that can make it easily happen.

Common Cause: the birth of modern citizen advocacy.

by Roger Craver

It’s hard to believe that in 1970s America women could not get their own credit cards when they graduated from school unless their husband or father was willing to sign for it.

The David Suzuki Foundation: campaign for Santa Claus

by SOFII

Think of everything that Santa has done for you – now is your chance to help him.

AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons): legacies booklet and newsletter

by SOFII

This booklet and newsletter were the centerpiece of a direct marketing legacy promotion programme. Given the huge size of the AARP membership and the substantial range of interests and abilities, Mal Warwick Associates opted to organise the multi-faceted legacy programme illustrated in these materials.

Please note: This exhibit is "under construction"

The NSPCC legacies TV ad: the ‘what will we leave?’ campaign

by SOFII

This campaign is a first for legacy fundraising in the UK. The NSPCC were able to create a positive, happy and colourful campaign; creating ‘talkability’ around the difficult subject of legacies.

Charter 88: the ‘buy-out’ letter

by SOFII

Is candour just too dangerous a commodity for charities?. This simple mailing achieved Charter 88's best ever response in its early days.

Aide et Action: press ads/thank you methodology

by SOFII

A simple idea for 'start-up NGOs' based on true donor relationship building. What's really significant here is the way that Aide et Action's CEO cultivated and encouraged press involvement and support, so that they were were only too willing to help with donations of free advertising space.

CARE USA: donor acquisition chaperoned emails

by SOFII

CARE USA responded to the violence in Gaza with remarkable humanitarian aid and a strong call to action for new donors. Being ready to appeal for new supporters during emergencies, or at times when your issue is in the public eye can help you to acquire more donors for your cause. To acquire new online donors at a low cost, CARE sent chaperoned emails through online publishers.