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The power of one

You’ve probably been hearing the story of young Sarah Murnaghan, the 10-year-old girl with end-stage cystic fibrosis. She’s in desperate need of a lung transplant. Without one, she isn’t likely to survive the next couple of weeks. But transplant rules don’t allow her to move to the front of the line – before adults and […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, direct mail, Donors, Fundraising 2 Comments

The best fundraising ideas I ever stole – part one

Talent borrows, genius steals. Oscar Wilde The best fundraising ideas… Are probably already out there for you to use. I’m not a genius. So I will try to give credit where memory allows. It was a colleague who once told me there aren’t any great new ideas – just people who know how to borrow […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Boards, Donor communications Tagged With: Board of directors, direct mail, personalized letters 1 Comment

Why letters are like people

Letters are like people? Let me explain. Have you ever noticed distinct personalities in the nonprofit letters you get? I find myself imaging organizational personas as I read. Here are a few. Let’s imagine a party. Glass in hand, you mingle with the crowd. Who do you meet? Letters are like people – meet some […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, direct mail, Donors, Nonprofit, relationships Leave a Comment

Trademarked

Can a friend be trademarked? I received a solicitation in the mail the other day. I bet you’ve also gotten this one or one like it. It comes with many colorful address labels. And a nickel! What really made me laugh this time, though, was the salutation. They obviously knew my name, because it was […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, direct mail, Fundraising Leave a Comment

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