The main areas of fundraising

Defenders of Wildlife: multi-channel direct marketing integration

by SOFII

With more nonprofits engaging in online marketing, those that are coordinating their messages or campaigns across many channels are standing out above the crowd.Defenders of Wildlife are leaders in the field and here we look at three of their campaigns to highlight some of the best multi-channel integrated marketing in the sector.

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How I wrote it: the ActionAid iguana letter

by Fergal Byrne & Aline Reed

Are you sitting down to write your next appeal? In this article, Aline Reed takes you through a letter she wrote in 2005. It was part of ActionAid UK’s long-running mid-value donor programme. Aline explains her approach to writing stories that move donors to action, and offers hints and tips that will help you to do the same. 

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British Red Cross: the £7.7 billion appeal that changed British fundraising forever

by SOFII

The Duke of Gloucester’s Red Cross and St John Appeal Fund is the largest charitable fund in the history of British fundraising, raising the equivalent of £7.7 billion. This monumental exhibit should be read by all.

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Introducing Lucy Innophoria

by Lucy Innophoria

Read Lucy Innophoria’s first blog post for SOFII to find out who she is, what she does and how her ideas can improve your fundraising.

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Youth for Causes: stimulating fundraising in Singapore

Promotional material.

by SOFII

In this innovative exhibit, a partnership between Citigroup and YMCA Singapore demonstrates the power of youth.

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The elephant man: a fundraising success story from 1886.

by Ken Burnett

The extraordinary story of how a successful fundraising appeal transformed the final years of one of the most tragic and moving figures of the Victorian age.

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Reverse Book Club cold acquisition pack: Books change lives

by SOFII

Book Aid International’s latest donor acquisition mailing package, created by them with UK marketing and communications agency Catalyst.

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Amnesty International: the shame Shell campaign

Amnesty’s shame Shell advert.

by SOFII

This exciting exhibit from Amnesty International UK reveals new and innovative ways to keep your donors at the heart of your next campaign.

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Centrepoint ‘sponsor a room’: donor acquisition

by SOFII

This exhibit is proof that traditional direct response fundraising can still work in the current fundraising climate. It demonstrates simple yet effective press advertising combined with a clever use of digital technology.

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How I wrote it: the Sharp HospiceCare conversion letter

by Fergal Byrne & Tom Ahern

In the first of this SOFII series of interviews with leading fundraising writers, Fergal Byrne talks to Tom Ahern about a letter he wrote in 2002 for Sharp HospiceCare. Here Tom tells Fergal how he wrote this letter, explains his approach and takes us through the letter step by step.

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Longstowe Church, Cambridgeshire, UK: restoration appeal

by Anthony Clay

‘Recession? What recession? It all goes to show that good fundraising still works, recession or not.’ How a tiny congregation in rural England raised the huge sum needed to restore their splendid church.

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The Bruce Barton letters: 22 classic direct mail appeals

by Ken Burnett

If you are new to SOFII, or an old hand, please have a look at some great fundraising letters you’ll love. Written by Bruce Barton over many years, they are priceless examples of the craft of writing fundraising letters.

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