Category Archives: copywriting
Why this trait is essential for your fundraising
Curiosity. It’s a trait that virtually all people share, and it’s one that we definitely want to tap into for fundraising. Arousing curiosity is a tried and true way to get donors to notice your direct mail or email appeal, … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, fundraising
Tagged charity, copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, Fundraising copywriting, marketing, nonprofit
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When disaster fundraising works and when it doesn’t
If you haven’t already, you’ll probably soon receive a barrage of emails appealing to you for donations to help the victims of the horrible earthquake in Turkey and Syria. This is of course a worthy cause. The need is overwhelming. … Continue reading
How to keep your donors interested in your fundraising appeal
It’s the age-old problem: how to engage the readers of your direct-response fundraising appeal to, first, start reading and then to continue reading. Luckily, we have some tips from Clarification blog: These are all good tips. But there’s one additional … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged behavior, charity, copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, Fundraising copywriting, marketing, nonprofit
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Two ways to begin a fundraising appeal – from Jerry Huntsinger
In Jerry Huntsinger’s “86 Tutorials in Creating Fundraising Letters and Packages,” he makes a point about how to begin a fundraising appeal. He makes his point with an example. It’s an appeal for a cancer charity. It begins: “Children shouldn’t … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged advertising, charity, copywriting, donor psychology, donors, fundraising, Fundraising copywriting, nonprofit
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What makes a good offer for a fundraising appeal and what makes a bad one
Why does the offer matter so much in direct mail fundraising? Let’s take a look at an appeal to find out. This is a fundraising appeal from a military nonprofit, and in the body of the letter, the first ask … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology
Tagged charity, copywriting, donor psychology, donors, fundraising, Fundraising copywriting, marketing, nonprofit
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What’s AI got to do with copywriting? Not much …
All the talk about AI for copywriting serves to highlight a basic misunderstanding of what copywriting is and what it isn’t. What AI bots do is produce content. That’s not copywriting. Copywriting – whether for commercial marketing or fundraising – … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology
Tagged behavior, copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, Fundraising copywriting, marketing, nonprofit
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The envelope teaser
The burning question in direct mail fundraising? Should you use a teaser for the outside envelope of your next appeal, or not? Some say the plain, blank envelope is the best ‘teaser,’ a no-teaser kind of teaser. But if you … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, nonprofit
Tagged behavior, charity, copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising, Fundraising copywriting, marketing, nonprofit
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What’s wrong with thanking donors?
I just got an email with the subject line “I’m so grateful.” Let’s see what this is all about. Turns out it’s from a rescue mission, an organization that I love and support. Here’s the text of the email: Dear … Continue reading
Your fundraising appeals – too much emotion? Or not enough?
In your fundraising appeals, is it better to use facts or feelings? Logic or emotion? Before you answer, let’s take a look at an example, and you can judge based on your own reaction. It’s an appeal from a conservation … Continue reading
Posted in copywriting, donor psychology, fundraising
Tagged donor psychology, fundraising, fundraising appeals, Fundraising copywriting
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Why a cup of tea means better fundraising
More than you probably realize, your fundraising has a lot to do with Japanese green tea. As they say in direct mail letters, let me explain. See, I’m a big fan of Japanese green tea. I drink it all the … Continue reading
Fundraising Copywriter George Crankovic 