Tag Archives: charity
Is this fundraising that works?
The overline at the top of the fundraising letter reads, “You can join your neighbors to help families facing hunger.” So far, so good. Everybody’s against hunger. Then, this: “Every $1 can help feed a family of 3!” One thing’s … Continue reading
These 3 things are probably killing your fundraising
There are three big misconceptions that nonprofits tend to have about direct response fundraising. They’ll definitely bring down your results. Misconception 1: “Too much mail will turn donors off.” The fact is that donors like to give and want to … Continue reading
The offer in fundraising
In direct response fundraising, what’s an offer? Is it like the offer in commercial direct marketing, or is it completely different? Why does the offer matter? Is it really the most important thing in a letter appeal or email appeal, … Continue reading
One sure way to make your fundraising better
The single best thing you can do to improve your fundraising? Come to terms with a hard truth: You are not your donors. They’re probably older than you, for one thing, which means they have a completely different frame of … Continue reading
Want more of your regular donors to become monthly donors?
Nonprofits love monthly donors for obvious reasons. Monthly donors give consistently, require less frequent fundraising, and tend to be more loyal. But to get regular donors to opt into monthly donor status, you have to make this seem like something … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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