Fundraising letters are about people. People talk. So your fundraising letters should include the voices of people. In a novel, the characters come alive only after you hear them talk. What they say, how they say it, when they say...
Seen any good plays lately? Spent a recent afternoon at a local museum or art gallery? How about an evening at the ballet? Of course you have. After all, artistic events are as ubiquitous as the artists who engage us....
There are so many fundraising events out there. How can we stand out from the crowd? Judy's Response: There are many ways to stand out from the crowd. Today, sponsors and guests alike are looking for cutting edge or custom...
Your direct mail fundraising program should have three goals. Goal 1: Acquires donors If your organization is typical, you lose around 15% of your donors each year. They simply stop responding to your appeals. Fifteen percent is average, but it's...
Gambling has been a part of human society for centuries. Whether one is motivated by the search for quick riches or the adrenaline rush that comes with teetering on the edge of success (or defeat) at the betting table, people...
This week's cover story is the final installment in a series of articles to help nonprofit organizations see the world from another perspective. The series also includes what funders, volunteers, consultants, and the media would like the nonprofit sector to...
What are corporate sponsor clients looking for these days from nonprofit organizations? How do they want us to make special events different, more unique? Corporate clients are looking for custom creativity, not cookie-cutter events. They are looking to be leaders...
A proven way to reactivate lapsed donors is to ask them why they have stopped giving. You can do this with a survey that you enclose in your mailing. Or you can leave space on the reply device for a...
How important is the invitation? Does the actual style/type of invitation make a difference in whether or not people accept? The invitation is extremely important - the look, the feel of the paper, layout, the font, the language used, the...
Closely associated with age, the concept of 'life stages' provides important insight to the marketing of planned gifts. This concept is of particular importance to gift planners because planned giving is very much a type commitment. There are certain times...
