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Are you making this mistake? Why whining isn’t winning.

Fundraising shouldn’t be about whining. The US presidential election is next year. But the campaign is already underway. There’s a lot of fundraising happening that isn’t about charity. So when one particular appeal caught the media’s attention, I had to look. This email appeal is both entertaining (not in a good way) and educational (ditto). Have you […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor as hero, fundraising appeal

Have you ditched your annual appeal yet?

Here’s why you should ditch that annual appeal I just emailed a letter, response form, and list to the mail house. Our base tends to be generous at this time of year. (Yours probably is, too.) There’s a lot riding on this appeal, and I’ve spent many hours on my offer, my story, my response […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Planning Tagged With: annual appeal, appeal, appeal writing, direct mail, donor, fundraising appeal

Essential components of your fundraising appeal

Your fundraising appeal needs a strong case You must have a compelling, urgent problem the donor can help solve. You need an emotional story People make giving decisions with their emotions. Stories are the best way to ignite those emotions. Tell a story. Go ahead and use some statistics – they can help support the […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal, appeal writing, fundraising appeal

Writing for someone else’s voice

If you write fundraising appeals, chances are someone else will sign what you write. So how do you write in a way that’s both compelling and believable? The most important thing is not that the letter sounds like the person signing it. The most important thing is that the letter is effective. So resist complaints […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, direct mail, Donors, fundraising appeal, Nonprofit

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