An Integrated Multichannel Fundraising Campaign Is Easier Than You Think

The Unrestricted Funds Conundrum: There’s an EASY Solution

Fundraising
A few weeks ago, one of our members in The Fundraisingology Lab asked a question: The organization had done a highly successful appeal to raise funds for a specific person facing extraordinary need. Funds poured in from energized donors who…
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Pop art Yes bubble

How the 40-40-20 Rule Gives You Freedom, Confidence, and Success in Fundraising

Creativity, Direct Mail
Let me share a rule I learned from a grizzled old-time direct response professional. He learned it from the classic days of commercial direct response, when he’d spent years creating direct mail for magazine subscriptions. It’s called the 40-40-20 Rule. …
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An Integrated Multichannel Fundraising Campaign Is Easier Than You Think

Here’s an Easy Tool that Can Turn You into a Fundraising Genius

Fundraising
How often do you see fundraising that asks donors to do things like these? Will you help us do our work by sending a generous contribution? Stand with us today in this important cause. Please show your support for our…
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Secret ingredient

The Fundraising Secret Ingredient You’ll Swear by for the Rest of Your Career

Fundraising
My Mom had a secret. It was a magic ingredient she could sprinkle into just about anything she cooked, and it made the food better. More flavorful. Richer. Just yummier in an almost undefinable way. She didn’t want people to…
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Pop Art Almonds

VIDEO: My Favorite Fundraising Appeal: The Power of Specificity

Fundraising
If you’re in or near Seattle, or you can manage to get to Seattle, you don’t want to miss the St. Demetrios Greek Festival every September. The highlight of the Festival for me comes a few months before that, when…
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Pop Art Piggy Bank e1561505269526

Matching Gift Appeals: How Many Is Too Many?

Fundraising
Be not afraid. That’s generally good advice, and it’s very good advice when it comes to matching gift offers. Matching gift appeals are maybe the easiest and most dependable way to increase response to your fundraising. It works any time…
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Pop Art Magician e1535425931329

How to Bulk Up Response to Any Fundraising Ask with Matching Funds

Fundraising
I don’t throw around terms like “magic” lightly, because there’s no such thing. But matching funds come close to magic. A match offer can cut through the clutter and encourage more donors to give. In fact, in my experience, a…
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Pop Art Two girls girlfriends talking

11 Ways to Beat the Odds and Raise a Lot of Money

Fundraising
Fundraising is just hard. Not only are you trying to persuade strangers to give you money for almost nothing in return — but you’re asking all that of people who are being asked by dozens of other fundraisers at the…
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How to Make Fundraising Work: Nail the Offer

How to Make Fundraising Work: Nail the Offer

Fundraising
Lynne Boardman, Managing Director at Harvey McKinnon Associates, and Jeff Brooks, Fundraisingologist at Moceanic, discuss the one thing that makes all the difference in fundraising: The offer — also called the call to action or the proposition. Nail this truth,…
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Do long letters in fundraising still work?

The Weird Power of Long Fundraising Letters

Direct Mail, Donor Psychology, Major and Mid Value Donors
Long letters work better. But don’t just take it from me. Dr Barnardo wrote a four-page appeal letter in London in the 1880s using classic direct mail techniques: Underlining, urgency, dollar handles, specific ask and a clear reference to what…
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