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Donor Communications

Do your thank you letters need a little help?

I want you to raise more money. So I want you to fix your thank you letters. I understand why thank you letters might seem an afterthought. When I first started working in development, I felt comfortable around data and record-keeping. It felt neat and orderly. You plug the numbers in correctly, and you get […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Thanks Tagged With: Donors, Nonprofit, thank you letters, Writing 20 Comments

10 reasons your newsletter could raise more money

10 reasons your newsletter could raise more money How well does your newsletter work? Many organizations now use newsletters to communicate about their work. That’s good! Yet I see so many organizations produce fancy pieces that aren’t doing their job. Do newsletters right, and they can be a serious source of income by delighting your […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor love, donor newsletters, individual giving 3 Comments

Do you want to reach more donors? Open your heart

My plea for emotional copywriting Successful fundraising is about reaching people where they make decisions… and that’s their hearts, not their heads. Emotional copywriting is effective copywriting. Writing to donors means using emotional copywriting. Yes, there are some “tricks” you can use to improve your appeal. Simple things, like better formatting. I’ve mentioned some ways you […]

Filed Under: Donor communications Tagged With: donor-centered fundraising, emotional appeal, fundraising appeal 11 Comments

How difficult are you making it to give?

How difficult are you making it to give? Seriously, giving shouldn’t be so confusing. The other day as we paid our bills, my husband and I pulled an appeal from our pile to make a donation. Then we turned the response form over and over, trying to figure out what to do. I’m a professional… […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: direct mail appeals, donor appeals, donor frustration 2 Comments

You just haven’t earned it yet, baby: 5 ways to start

Every time I hear a frustrated fundraiser talk about donors who aren’t giving, that lyric pops into my head. (In case you don’t know, it’s thanks to Steven Patrick Morrissey and Johnny Marr, of course). I know it’s human nature to look around for someone to blame when things don’t go as planned. And right […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, donor appeals, donor-focused, writing for donors 2 Comments

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