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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

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

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

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

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