Mothers shave heads for charity

Here’s a short note on a news article that caught my attention over the weekend.  Later this year 46 mothers will converge on Union Station in Washington, DC.  During rush hour they’ll have their heads shaved while spreading the word about children’s cancer. Why 46?  Because everyday 46 children die of cancer. Why shave their […]

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2 Fundamentals of a Strong Fundraising Appeal

Strong fundraising copy is the culmination of many factors.  Today I’ll touch on two that can have a profound impact on the success of your fundraising appeal.  1) White Space In fundraising appeals (direct mail, email, or even on your website), white space allows your reader to relax and read your copy more easily. In […]

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Donate to Acme Charity in lieu of a gift

“In lieu of gifts we would like to suggest donations to Acme Charity.” Have you ever received a card like that with a wedding invitation?  I did recently and it started me wondering: How many charities periodically mention this option to their donors? I can’t say that I’ve noticed it on any of the letters […]

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Are you cultivating website visitors? 10 suggestions for your site.

Cultivation, stewardship, building stronger relationships . . . these are vital activities for any charity or association. How confident are you that your website is cultivating your visitors? While there are a variety of ways to cultivate and build stronger relationships online, today I’m focusing on a single variable: Make it easy for visitors. How […]

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I’m not calling to ask for money. But would you …

First let me say that I know telemarketing works for fundraising.  For example: It’s a great way to renew donors or members, especially lapsed ones.  I’m glad to see that many organizations use it. It’s just that when I receive these calls at home there are a few frequently used phrases that annoy the bee-geebers out […]

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Tis a lovely day when we honor Saint Patrick (387 – 461 AD). Although much of the focus these days is on wearing green so you don’t get pinched.  Or drinking green beer and eating corned beef and cabbage . . . there’s more to this day than myths and legends. Few quick tidbits. The shamrock […]

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Less Than One Month Away

National Volunteer Week is less than one month away: April 10 – 16, 2011.  Are you ready?  Established in 1974, the goal of National Volunteer Week is to inspire, recognize and encourage citizens to find ways to help their communities . . . to strengthen communities. This is not only an opportunity for charities, but […]

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Urgent Mobile Aid for Japan Victims of Earthquake and Tsunami

One of the fastest ways donors can help during an emergency – including a natural disaster – is through mobile text donation campaigns. The mGive Foundation acted immediately to ensure its clients – charities – could rally their donors to help those in need in Japan.  All this is in response to the 8.9 magnitude earthquake […]

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What your nonprofit can learn from an Auto Parts Supplier

Want to grow your email list 12-fold in a year?  That’s what an auto parts supplier did via integrated marketing.  As you read this post, don’t focus on the differences – mission statements, possibly budgets, target audience, messaging – between your nonprofit and this B2B company.  Instead focus on what is similar: An integrated multi-channel […]

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Social Appeals

There’s a correlation between writing an appeal and connecting with people in social networks.  It doesn’t matter whether the appeal is to acquire donors and raise funds, to find more members for your association, or to keep in touch with existing supporters. This correlation popped into my mind yesterday because I’ve been busy expanding my […]

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