Copywriting

First, FundRaising Success columnist Jeff Brooks, creative director at TrueSense Marketing, warned fundraisers of the seven deadly sins of fundraising. Now he looks at the antidotes, the seven heavenly virtues of of fundraising.

Ted Hart speaks with nonprofit communications expert Tom Ahern about donor communications in this archived episode of his Nonprofit Coach radio show.

Here's an October 2006 column from Tim Burgess, who was  one of the founders of The Domain Group (and is now a city councilman in his hometown of Seattle). In "Newsletters Done Right," he shares five practical tips to creating revenue-raising newsletters.

The thank you is so important and it’s the one written communication, done well, most donors will read word for word. A thank you lines up your next gift. Weren’t you taught to write and say thank you to Aunt Edna if you wanted another present next year? You should invest time on crafting your thank you(s).

I recently recalled this great Easier Said Than Done column by Jeff Brooks from April 2009 and the equally great response from a reader that appeared in July of that year. First, the column, "When PC Equals BS" ... then the response, "We Are Not Afraid to Say 'Leprosy'"

In the December 2007 issue, columnist Jeff Brooks, then creative director at Merkle and now creative director at TrueSense Marketing, provided four steps to give your newsletter maximum positive impact with donors in his column, "The Better Newsletter."

This April 2008 column by Jeff Brooks, "Six Bad Habits of Ineffective Fundraisers," addresses issues that are as true today as they were then.

In his career, Jerold Panas has helped a diverse range of organizations raise an estimated $11 billion. He recently spoke with his publisher about the state of fundraising today and the lessons he has learned throughout his career. GuideStar has published excerpts from Panas's books and is pleased to be able to share his additional thoughts with you.

According to the science of persuasion, based on research by Dr. Robert Cialdini, there are six principles that can be used to make you more persuasive. These principles apply to anything really, but for our work let’s look at how they apply to fundraising — specifically end of year fundraising.

No matter what Congress does, there will always be a desire in human beings to make a difference. As long as you don't become hopeless, you can help people respond to the high and good within themselves. People will always want to be remembered. There will always be individuals who are willing to step up when there's a need, because it is in giving that we receive. (Thank you, St. Francis of Assisi.)