copywriting Archives

Effective Fundraising Is Always a “Choose Your Own Adventure” Story

November 19, 2018

Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? They are kid-fiction adventures that originated in the late 70s. Each book is narrated in the second person — you — and offers periodic decision points for the reader. It goes something like…

VIDEO: How to Feel the Holiday Season When It’s Still Far Off

August 20, 2018

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, holidays, Jeff Brooks

No Comments

One of the strange challenges of the serious fundraiser is the long stretch of time between when you should be crafting your messaging and when it finally goes out to donors. And now, the midst of August, is when that…

8 Secrets of Fundraising Ninjas

July 30, 2018

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, Jeff Brooks

No Comments

You’ve heard about regular ninjas. They’re highly trained people with such well-developed fighting skills that they appear to have supernatural abilities. I don’t know if this kind of ninjas are mythic or real. But I do know that there are…

VIDEO: Good and Bad Delusions: What My Cat Is Teaching Me about Fundraising

July 9, 2018

Jeff Brooks

cats, copywriting, Jeff Brooks, older donors

I’d like to introduce you to Dulcinea, my cat. She’s very nice. We have a great relationship, as long as I keep supplying cat food. But we’re both delusional. That’s okay, though. It’s how two very different species can get…

5 Professional Tips for Making Your Fundraising Stories Sing

April 3, 2018

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, creative, emotion, Jeff Brooks, Kristine Poggioli

No Comments

Jeff Brooks joins long-time friend and colleague, Kristine Poggioli to talk about writing great stories for fundraising — for direct mail, email, or any other medium. Kristine’s tips for fundraising stories that really do the job: Grab the reader’s attention…

You Have No Dramatic Stories to Tell? You’re Looking at it Wrong!

February 19, 2018

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, creative, emotion, Jeff Brooks

We don’t have any dramatic stories to tell! How can we tell great stories? We don’t work with babies or puppies! We have no way to be emotional. Have you heard or said things like this? It’s flat-out wrong. If…

What to Do When the Fundraising Experts Are Wrong

January 31, 2018

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, creative, Jeff Brooks, Training

No Comments

Every once in a while, I hear from a fundraiser who says something like this: Our direct mail is not at all the way you say it should be. It’s wordy, complicated, and written at a very high reading level.…

The Art of Not Being Clever in Your Fundraising

January 22, 2018

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, creative, Jeff Brooks

No Comments

One of the reasons I like the Web: It’s helping kill off the Clever Headline. Google and the other search engines don’t understand puns. They don’t appreciate wordplay. They don’t admire a Joycean multilingual, triple-entendre, back-flip ironic headline. These things…

Crazy Advice Charities Are Given

December 11, 2017

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, creative, Lynne Boardman, Sean Triner

Sean Triner, Fundraisingologist at Moceanic and Lynne Boardman, Managing Director at Harvey McKinnon Associates tackle some common advice nonprofits receive, including: “Don’t ask your donors to put you in your will. Talking about death will upset them.” “Don’t thank donors…

How to Write Like a Nonprofit Genius and Motivate People to Join Your Cause

October 25, 2017

Jeff Brooks

copywriting, creative

No Comments

Once upon a time, I was an English teacher. A guardian and promoter of our written language in its formal academic form. Please accept my apology for the damage I did during those years. I worked hard to teach my…

Effective Fundraising Is Always a “Choose Your Own Adventure” Story

VIDEO: How to Feel the Holiday Season When It’s Still Far Off

8 Secrets of Fundraising Ninjas

VIDEO: Good and Bad Delusions: What My Cat Is Teaching Me about Fundraising

5 Professional Tips for Making Your Fundraising Stories Sing

You Have No Dramatic Stories to Tell? You’re Looking at it Wrong!

What to Do When the Fundraising Experts Are Wrong

The Art of Not Being Clever in Your Fundraising

Crazy Advice Charities Are Given

How to Write Like a Nonprofit Genius and Motivate People to Join Your Cause

SIGNUP FOR E-NEWS AND FREE FUNDRAISING TIPS

Nearly every single email can help you raise more money for your cause. You don't want to miss out.

Dive Into Smarter Fundraising with Moceanic

Now is the time to jump on board to get even smarter about your fundraising

SIGN UP FOR FREE FUNDRAISING TIPS

Nearly every single tip we give you could make your cause more money. You don’t want to miss out.

SIGNUP FOR E-NEWS AND FREE FUNDRAISING TIPS

Nearly every single email can help you raise more money for your cause. You don’t want to miss out.

100% FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Jeff Brooks’ Webinar: Your Roadmap to Record-Smashing Direct Mail This Year End

SESSION OPTION 2:

New York: 8pm Thursday, Aug 23
Los Angeles: 5pm Thursday, Aug 23
Sydney: 10am Friday, Aug 24
Auckland: 12 Noon Friday, Aug 24
Times don’t suit? Check out Option 1

REGISTER HERE!

100% FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Jeff Brooks’ Webinar: Your Roadmap to Record-Smashing Direct Mail This Year End

SESSION OPTION 1:

New York: 3:30pm Thursday, Aug 23
Los Angeles: 12:30pm Thursday, Aug 23
London: 8:30pm Thursday, Aug 23
Auckland: 7:30am Friday, Aug 24
Times don’t suit? Check out Option 2

REGISTER HERE!

SIGNUP FOR E-NEWS AND FREE FUNDRAISING TIPS

Nearly every single email can help you raise more money for your cause. You don't want to miss out.

Dive Into Smarter Fundraising with Moceanic

Now is the time to jump on board to get even smarter about your fundraising

SESSION OPTION 1:

New York: 3:30pm Thursday, Aug 23 Los Angeles: 12:30pm Thursday, Aug 23 London: 8:30pm Thursday, Aug 23 Auckland: 7:30am Friday, Aug 24 Times don’t suit? Check out Option 2

REGISTER HERE!

New York: 3:30pm Thursday, Aug 23
Los Angeles: 12:30pm Thursday, Aug 23
London: 8:30pm Thursday, Aug 23
Auckland: 7:30am Friday, Aug 24
Times don’t suit? Check out Option 2