The main areas of fundraising

Soil Association: membership development

by SOFII

This instructive exhibit shows how it is possible to target different types of member by carefully segmenting donor files and structuring membership offers according to the different donor groups found on the Soil Association’s database. But you need to really understand your donors.

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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.

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NSPCC: the Little Book of Change

A page from The Little Book of Change

by SOFII

A brilliant example of stewardship at its best, the NSPCC’s Little Book of Change is a superbly-chosen high value thank you for major donors and volunteers alike. The Little Book of Change was designed to bring to life a range of outcomes for children that had previously been presented in a statistical report. Individual stories of children and families are shown through letters, poems, stories, magazine articles and drawings. This approach could be utilised by any organisation to make its key stakeholders feel part of what the organisation is trying to achieve and to secure their help in the long-term.

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RNLI: the legacy letter

by SOFII

This is a classic example of a direct appeal to supporters, asking for information that will help plan future income. The candid, plain-speaking, respectful copy reminds supporters that RNLI relies heavily on legacies to fund their work. You can read the whole thing here.

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Station WDCN, Nashville, USA: special ‘thank you’ to a donor

by SOFII

A fundraiser really listening to her donor, thinking on her feet and responding in an entirely appropriate and personal manner with a communication that any donor would be delighted to receive.

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Greenpeace Sweden’s legacy commercials

by SOFII

Colourful cartoon characters present the threats to their environment and set up a conversation about legacies for Greenpeace in Sweden. It’s all about trying new things and taking risks, which too many organisations shy away from. Greenpeace International has developed a structure to make them possible.

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Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia: bequest conversion pack

by SOFII

This very detailed exhibit shows clearly how to ask donors and potential donors for the biggest gift they’ll ever make – a legacy. The campaign achieved brilliant results and stands out in the charity sector as an example of good bequest (legacy) marketing. It showed that asking someone for a bequest doesn’t have to be daunting and risky, as long as it is done in a sensitive, respectful manner that offers an emotive and compelling case for support.

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DirectChange.org website

by SOFII

Is this the future of fundraising; giving donors direct control over where their money goes, instant feedback and the flexibility to decide what they will support, when and how? DirectChange.org is an exemplary use of new technology to bring new donors (and a new generation of donors) into charity to help meet urgent needs.

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Great Ormond Street Hospital: legacy marketing 1856

by SOFII

Why is it that the giving and receipt of legacies figured strongly in Victorian literature, yet is largely absent today? The announcement in the annual report of The Hospital for Sick Children (later Great Ormond Street Hospital) appeared just four years after the hospital was founded, but it was already obvious that gifts of legacies would be very important to the health and development of the hospital.

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RSPB: brand stretch work

by SOFII

Ten brilliant images designed to inspire and introduce new audiences to the work of one of Britain’s premier conservation organisations.

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Kelvingrove refurbishment appeal: capital campaign

by SOFII

Find out how this great, superbly well planned capital campaign was executed with such great style and character that it exceeded its target by more than two times.

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Los Angeles County Museum of Art: capital campaign

by SOFII

How direct mail and the phone together can secure massive support from lower dollar donors. By following the approach described here, nonprofit organisations that find it difficult to reach very wealthy donors can supplement their capital campaign.

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