What is the value of art? Should we care? The great thing about arts donors is that they get it. They give because the art form means something important to them. You probably have many solid arguments for why arts matter. I’ll bet you can make the economic case from memory. You know about the […]
Empathy: the key to better fundraising
Empathy – the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions: the ability to share someone else’s feelings While sympathy is compassion for someone else’s situation, empathy is feeling their pain. Sympathy keeps its distance. Empathy is a powerful connection to someone else. We’ve evolved to feel empathy because it’s useful in understanding […]
Can fundraisers be both human and smart?
I received a lovely email from the Fundraising Everywhere folks. In it was a piece by Wayne Murray. He urged all of us in the nonprofit sector to be more human. That gets a rousing YES! From me. But then we veered from the big picture – keeping fundraising human – to tactics like font […]
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 […]
We all want to be understood
Your donors want to feel understood. Especially now. Coronavirus has been here in the US for about 7 months now. And it feels like years, doesn’t it? (Do you look at old television shows or movies and feel the urge to yell at the actors to get a mask on? Me too. I wonder how […]