30 things I've learnt in 30 years of fundraising
In May 1962 when I returned from nearly four years overseas to join a fledgling direct mail advertising company, I encountered my first fundraising mail programme.
In the 30 years since then, fundraising has moved on to become a sophisticated process combining a variety of methods in an integrate...
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Where there's a Will
Bequests are the bread and butter of every planned giving programme, according to Amy Gill, director of gift planning strategy and stewardship at The Nature Conservancy. Everyone older than 18 can and should have a Will, she added, and it’s easy to add a charitable bequest to a Will.
Beques...
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A pot of gold at the end of your rainbow
Stung by strong client criticism of what I considered some very worthwhile copy, I sent this memo to my copy director:
‘This client seems to have lost sight of the fact that the overall success of a newsletter depends on its balance, its ‘mix’. It’s a communication between...
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A firm stand against commission fundraising
Leaders of charitable organisations frequently assume that fundraising firms work on a commission basis, and some do. However, in our opinion, no ethical firm which provides bona fide fundraising services or counsel will base fees on a percentage of funds raised.
A look at this issue from any poi...
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10 Action Steps
How can a person who wants to contribute to a nonprofit as a board member make a difference?
Based on my own experience as both a consultant and a board member, and in conversations with people involved with nonprofits, I have identified 10 action steps that a concerned and committed board membe...
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