Do names matter? A few weeks ago, Roger Craver wrote about an issue dear to my heart. Having been caught in a tweetstorm with Whiny Donor, my tweets on the subject were mentioned. Whiny, Clay Buck, Tom Ahern, and I all complained about how organizations ignored our names because using two different names on a […]
How to use awe to raise more money
Goosebumps. We’ve all had them. Sometimes it’s just a reaction to cold. But I’m talking about the other ones. You know what I mean. The ones that break out when we’re really moved. The feeling you get when you stare at a starry sky and think about how huge the universe is. Our involuntary reaction […]
Can you feel it? How you can use the power of metaphor
How can you use the power of metaphor to improve your fundraising? I recently read a fascinating article about how we react to metaphors. I want to share some of what I read. Because understanding this powerful device can help you reach right into your readers’ minds – and touch their hearts. You probably learned […]
The birds and bees of fundraising
“Mommy, where do major donors come from?” Well, dear, it’s a very special story. And you’re old enough now for me to share it with you. It begins with a group of people. They decide to work together to make something better. To be kinder to people or animals. To make beautiful things that everyone […]
In defense of GivingTuesday
In a recent blog post on this very website, Mary Cahalane wrote a piece entitled GivingTuesday is a day, not a strategy. I always enjoy Mary’s writing and I would say that nearly 99% of the time I am lock step with her around her thoughts. Yet on this particular item, I felt like I […]