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Watch your weenie words

Watch your weenie words

I call them weenie words. Hedges. Qualifiers. And I don’t like them. Now, I don’t think of myself as a bold person. As a kid, I was an eager follower, not the leader. I do more listening than talking, content to let someone else lead the conversation. I’m cautious. I don’t make fast decisions. But […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor communications, fundraising appeal, thank you 2 Comments

Getting grief about your year-end appeal?

Getting grief about your year-end appeal?

Here are your answers to common complaints Right now, someone in your organization, or an outside expert, is busy writing your important year-end appeal. And a lot of  other people are sharpening their red pencils. I have been responding to copy criticism for decades. And the critiques are often along the same lines, time after […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor communications, fundraising appeal Leave a Comment

Emergency fundraising: plan now for later.

Need to move fast? Plan now for later

We don’t always plan for emergencies. Of course, that’s what an emergency is – something important, but not normal. So how can you plan for emergency fundraising? If your organization finds itself struggling with the impact of coronavirus – whether in increased expenses and/or increased need for your services – you need to be able […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Fundraising Tagged With: emergency appeal, fundraising appeal 3 Comments

Building a better appeal, part two

Build a better appeal part 2

Last week, I wrote about your fundraising appeal and offered some steps to improve it. This week, with part two, we’ll pick up where we left off. Here’s what I want to share in both posts: Where to start The critical role emotion plays – and how to use it How to grab attention right […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor-centered fundraising, fundraising appeal Leave a Comment

How to build a better appeal

How to build a better appeal

Let’s be blunt: most fundraising appeals are well-meaning, but crap. Stuffy. Officious. Impersonal. Focused on the organization’s needs, not the donor’s dreams. The good news is you can start fixing that today, and I’ll show you how. This week and next, we’ll cover: Where to start The critical role emotion plays – and how to […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor-centered fundraising, fundraising appeal 5 Comments

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