In this article Aline Reed and Ken Burnett describe some great founding moments – how small beginnings can inspire great causes.

In his latest article on storytelling, Charlie Hulme, says, ‘If you want people to donate, make sure they know that others are. Don’t ask them to join at the starting line, show them the finish line – show them the money.’

You might be surprised to learn that even in this celebrity-obsessed age, UK charities don’t use the famous extensively in their campaigns. If you do have a celebrity you need to use him or her wisely, says Andrew Papworth.

Back in 2010, the plight of 33 miners in Chile was an international sensation. We were all gripped by the suspense: would the rescue attempt succeed, would they survive…? It wiped from our newspapers and television screens the devastating floods in Pakistan, described by the UN as the greatest humanitarian crisisin recent history. How could this happen? Charlie Hulme explains in his second article on storytelling.

Close your eyes and think Brazil! Breathe deeply. Sizzling Carnival delights. Dazzling bicycle kicks on premier turf. Knockout women slinking down high fashion runways. Fundraising powerhouse?  Sejam bem vindos, to the new Brazil! With its economy burning brightly at sixth in the world, it couldn’t be long for such eye-catching growth to seduce a new generation of Brazilians into the noble corridors of fundraising. So important is this development that SOFII has decided to open a hall with exhibits in Portuguese for the benefit of all Portuguese-speaking fundraisers. Welcome all!

This is the first article on SOFII's new storytelling series. 

SOFII pays tribute to George Smith, fundraising guru and communicator par excellence, who died on Friday2nd March.

Jeff Brooks thinks the people at the UN wanted us to take part in events for the millennium development goals campaign, but he’s not sure. They never actually say that. They just hint at it.

SOFII would like to thank all our volunteers in Brazil. Thanks to them we are now able to offer you a selection of exhibits translated into Portuguese. Meet the team here. 

In this, the sixth of a series of interviews with leading fundraising writers, Alan Sharpe talks with Fergal Byrne about a fundraising letter written for Canadian charity War Child in 2011. During the conversation, Alan reveals the thinking that went into his letter and what really matters in making a letter a success.

In this new article about her time with AIDS charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, Lyndall Stein says, ‘…I have learned that it is a privilege to be a fundraiser. When you are working on the toughest issues in the hardest times, you know that your blood, sweat and tears will be turned to gold, that your work will be meaningful, relevant and will matter…’ 

Nicole Schmidt is convinced that we should all be copying J K Rowling by telling our stories they way she told Harry Potter’s. Ms Rowling, of course, sold millions of books and made a huge amount of money. Will we fundraisers raise millions for our causes if we adopt her techniques?