April 27, 2020
If you stop and think about it for a minute, you can break pretty much all kinds of charitable giving into two simple categories: REACTIVE and REFLECTIVE. Let’s look at each briefly in turn: REACTIVE giving occurs in response to something that happens to you. It could be seeing a story in the news, a […]
October 4, 2019
If you have a digital strategy to reach your donors, growing your email list is likely a priority for you. After all, more subscribers = more money, right? But in the world of digital marketing, sometimes less is more. In fact, you can read a whole blog post by my fellow Good Worker Charlotte Field, […]
September 13, 2019
I started doing direct mail fundraising work in 1989 – that’s 30 years ago. While most of what makes direct mail (and all direct response channels for that matter) work hasn’t changed – like high personalization, great storytelling, compelling response devices, and powerful offers – there is one area that has changed quite a […]
August 30, 2019
To run integrated campaigns, we need to communicate across channels and break down silos. These are increasingly common requests we hear from fundraisers across the sector. They’re also the right objectives to pursue! Donors today are communicating with people, companies, charities, and even government officials in every channel imaginable. If you’re going to build a […]
July 8, 2019
Have you seen the refrigerators they’re selling today? They have hidden doors to store all those annoyingly awkward bottles of sauces, and super-sleek ice cube dispensers. The one that caught my eye recently has a tablet-like screen on the front that can help you with meal planning and grocery lists. It’s a beauty. But it […]
June 14, 2019
Donor-centricity. Mention that term in a room full of fundraisers and you’ll always get lots of approving nods. We are very smart and highly attuned people. We fundamentally understand that great fundraising is never about us or our organizations and that donors give through us and not to us. In fact, in a perfect world, […]
June 7, 2019
SO MUCH MEDIA!! I know I don’t need to tell you how pervasive all the media we consume is. It’s littered with targeted advertising messages. All that might make you think it’s getting harder and harder to cut through all that clutter. It’s everywhere. And it’s overwhelming. According to Forbes, we’re exposed to anywhere between […]
May 31, 2019
We are fast approaching the time of year when I will hear many of my clients say “I can’t believe you want to talk about our Holiday appeal now! It’s the summer! I’m too hot and sweaty to think about Christmas!” This is not limited to Holiday mailings, either. Throughout the year clients will ask […]
May 6, 2019
We’ve all been there. Staring at the flashing cursor on a white page, biting your nails and pacing the floor in an effort to summon all those creative juices from the depths of your soul. It could be letter copy, a teaser, a subject line or an innovative design for a lift note or newsletter. […]
April 26, 2019
Spring is upon us and many organizations are starting to look back at the past year’s performance. How was your 2018? How did it differ from 2017? Now how did it compare to 2008? Did I throw you for a loop there? 2008 seems like ages ago. You may have been working for another organization, […]
