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Magic moments: how small beginnings inspire great causes
In this article Aline Reed and Ken Burnett describe some great founding moments – how small beginnings can inspire great causes.
Tutorial 41 - to write a better letter, go fly a kite
Jerry says you will be more successful at writing a letter if you learn and practise a trick of professional writers – a cooling off period at specific intervals in the creative process.
Together not separate
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.’
Investing in testing
Has the rigorous testing regime that used to pervade in every seriously ambitious charity been allowed to slip in your organisation? Are your trustees afflicted with the ‘lowest possible acquisition cost’ mentality? You must test properly, says Ken Burnett, otherwise your prospects for innovation are reduced to a matter of random chance.
When you wish upon a star
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.
How I wrote it – Jules Brown talks about the Women’s Aid fundraising letter.
In Fergal Byrne’s seventh interview with leading fundraising copywriters, Jules Brown from New Zealand explains why he begins with a case study. ‘I immerse myself in the case study. For me, it forms the guts of what fundraising direct mail is all about.’ Click here to see the powerful case history he used in the featured letter that he wrote for Women’s Aid in Ireland.
Hope not hopeless
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.
How I use SOFII – I turn to the better thank-you checklist that helps us value our donors
Virginia Anderson is an experienced, effective major donor fundraiser in Scotland. So why does she keep SOFII’s 17-point better thank-you letter checklist pinned close to her desk? Find out here.
Fundraisers, think Brazil!
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!
Want to get inside your donors brain? Try storytelling
Emotional storytelling keeps popping up on SOFII and rightly so given its importance to fundraisers everywhere. Here we have the introduction and the first article in a series SOFII will be publishing in coming weeks on the art of storytelling, from Charlie Hulme of telemarketing agency Pell & Bales. If you care about catching your donor’s interest and imagination, read on here.
People not numbers: emotion not reason
This is the first article on SOFII's new storytelling series.
The emotional brain
Seasoned fundraiser Ken Burnett says of his latest article, The Emotional Brain, ‘It seems to me that fundraisers don’t know as much as they might about what it is that makes people give and why; what makes them loyal or repeat donors and what binds them to our cause above other causes, come what may. So I’m fairly sure that the emotional brain is the most important subject I’ve written about in a long time. Working on it has quite altered my view of what, as fundraisers, we should be doing when we acquire and then communicate with our donors.’
A tribute to George Smith, 4th March 2012
SOFII pays tribute to George Smith, fundraising guru and communicator par excellence, who died on Friday2nd March.
Read George’s tribute here too.
In case you are having problems with the link above click here or here to see the same article posted on Ken Burnett's site.
Stupid ad 9: imagines donors look like dead bodies
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.
Hilda’s suitcase: when’s the right time to discuss leaving a legacy?
You’ll love this charming and personal story from Norma Cameron in Canada, who learned an important lesson about gift planning from her mum.
SOFII in Portuguese - meet our volunteer translators in Brazil
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.
Tutorial 40 - writing letters to men, part 2
The first part of Jerry Huntsinger’s tutorial on writing for men prompted the comment: ‘What a well put together article. Something I've often thought, but not in such a clear way. It's given me some ideas!’ SOFII is sure you to will find some new ideas in the second part of this interesting tutorial.
How I wrote it - Alan Sharpe’s War Child fundraising letter.
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.
How I use SOFII – to take advantage of coming second
Find out how enthusiastic new fundraising magpie Margaux Smith uses SOFII to learn from those who’ve been treading the fundraising boards for many a year.
A fundraiser’s alchemy: turning tears to gold
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…’
Tutorial 39 - writing letters to men
‘Men are usually more in a rut than women; they have difficulty shifting from one idea to another. They want to see the facts right up front.’ So says Jerry Huntsinger in the first part of his latest tutorial.
Five ways to ‘Harry Potterise’ your Internet and direct mail appeals…. and get donors giving when times are tough
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?
Stupid ad 9: how to fail to motivate your audience to take action
The ads featured here were designed, pro bono, by the agency G2 in the USA and will run in high-end consumer magazines. The space in the media will be paid for by Ultimat Vodka – and won’t come cheap. Will they be worth it? Most likely not, says leading US blogger Nancy Schwartz, and she gives SOFII users seven ways that will motivate our donors to action.


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