Creative Archives

AI Fundraising: 4 steps to getting it right

July 27, 2026

Jeff Brooks

I’m lazy. And I’ll (lazily) go out on a limb to say you’re lazy too. I’m confident in saying that, because laziness is a basic human trait. We’re always looking for shortcuts and labor-savers. It’s just the way we are.…

The Readability Mistakes Impacting Your Fundraising

May 4, 2026

Jeff Brooks

Design, Inclusivity, Writing

Fundraising is complicated. There’s a lot we need to do right. And a lot of things that can go wrong. But there’s one thing that is super common that’s chasing away donors and their donations. A lot of nonprofits are…

How to Increase Direct Mail Open Rates using Mystery

August 25, 2025

Jeff Brooks

Digital Fundraising, Direct Mail

Curiosity is one of the most human traits. When we don’t know what’s going on, we feel compelled to find out. Think monkeys. Or kittens: We perk up and pay a lot more attention when we don’t know what something…

Do I Still Love Premiums!? (2022 update added)

January 4, 2022

Sean Triner

Direct Mail, Bequests and Legacies, Major and Mid Value Donors, Monthly Giving

Are premium direct mails still pulling their weight in donor acquisition? Direct mail, and in particular, premium direct mail, provided the largest source of new ‘one-off’ donors in Australia and New Zealand in 2016. Also, direct mail is also the…

Nine Ways to Beat Burnout, Even This Year

November 9, 2020

Jeff Brooks

Self-Care

If you’ve been through a pregnancy — even if only via a partner or family member who was pregnant — you know just how long nine months can be. It’s a taste of eternity. And not the good kind. So…

BOOK REVIEW: Orbiting the Giant Hairball

September 15, 2020

Jeff Brooks

Books, Creativity

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie I read a lot of books that are meant to make me better at my work. You probably do too. Every fundraising book I can…

All You Need Is Love: Nearly Everything I Know about Fundraising I Learned from the Beatles

July 13, 2020

Jeff Brooks

Fun

One of the great things about fundraising is you can find the information and inspiration you need just about anywhere. I’ve found a treasury of fundraising wisdom in the work of the Beatles … When I’m Sixty-Four By a wide…

26 Tips for More Effective Fundraising Writing

October 14, 2019

Jeff Brooks

Fundraising, Writing

1. Write the call to action (the reply device or landing page) first It’s very un-Zen to say it, but fundraising is more about the destination than the journey. You’re going to arrive a lot more successfully when you know…

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

November 19, 2018

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling

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…

Bananas and Direct Mail Fundraising: 3 Easy Improvements

September 24, 2018

Jeff Brooks

Direct Mail

I bet you didn’t know there’s another way to peel a banana. Not just another way, but a far better way that’s easier, less messy, and leaves you with more yummy banana to eat. How often do we get to…

The Fundraisingology Lab is open this week. Doors close Fri, Feb 20.

AI Fundraising: 4 steps to getting it right

The Readability Mistakes Impacting Your Fundraising

How to Increase Direct Mail Open Rates using Mystery

Do I Still Love Premiums!? (2022 update added)

Nine Ways to Beat Burnout, Even This Year

BOOK REVIEW: Orbiting the Giant Hairball

All You Need Is Love: Nearly Everything I Know about Fundraising I Learned from the Beatles

26 Tips for More Effective Fundraising Writing

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

Bananas and Direct Mail Fundraising: 3 Easy Improvements

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SIGNUP FOR E-NEWS AND FREE FUNDRAISING TIPS

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Dive Into Smarter Fundraising with Moceanic

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

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FUNDRAISING TIPS FROM MOCEANIC