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Do your thank you letters need a little help?

I want you to raise more money. So I want you to fix your thank you letters. I understand why thank you letters might seem an afterthought. When I first started working in development, I felt comfortable around data and record-keeping. It felt neat and orderly. You plug the numbers in correctly, and you get […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Thanks Tagged With: Donors, Nonprofit, thank you letters, Writing 20 Comments

She’s the one.

She’s the one. Your donor, that is. Or she should feel like the one. Strong communication is one-to-one. Underline that for fundraising communications. Who me? Think about it. You’re writing with a purpose. You want someone to do something. Want donors to ignore your request? Ask “someone” to do something. (One funny exception: my younger […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: donor focus, donor love, Writing Leave a Comment

Why I write

Last week, my friend Diana Schwenk shared her thoughts on writing and handed off #WhyIWrite to me. Here’s why: Creativity will out People are creative – whatever outlet they choose. And if one outlet is not available, that creativity will find its way out into the world somehow. For as long as I can remember, I was […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: #whyIwrite, Writing 1 Comment

Say it again!

Say it again! Why repetition works so well. Today I found myself hunting for an idea I’d seen for a lapsed donor appeal. My search took me to some letters I’d written years ago. I wrote the letters at my former organization. With a few years’ distance, I definitely found a few things I’d change. But […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, direct mail, Writing 3 Comments

Are you caught in a dead-end?

I live on a cul-de-sac. Or as we used to say back in NJ, a dead-end. Every once in a while I watch a truck driver pull into the end of our street, hoping it will be a shortcut to another neighborhood. Then the driver has to perform truck gymnastics to get back out. It’s […]

Filed Under: Annual Giving, Blog, Donor communications Tagged With: appeal writing, jargon, Writing 2 Comments

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Recent Posts

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  • Do your thank you letters need a little help?
  • 10 reasons your newsletter could raise more money
  • 5 Ways to Center Donors In Your Marketing Strategy
  • How to Create a Seamless Supporter Journey (and Build Loyal Donors for Life)

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