Every nonprofit board and executive should read this morning's Wall Street Journal article, Counting on an Inheritance? Count Again. The article is primarily a discussion about the long-term impact...
Are you integrating mail and e-mail? You should be… (Tip #23)
Every time you put mail into the mailstream, you should send a coordinated e-mail blast. The integrated (timing, theme and message) approach will help you reach more donors and generate more...
What’s your direct mail suppression strategy? (Tip #22)
Be careful not to over-suppress. What do you do when someone calls and asks to be taken off your mailing list? Do you just say OK and pull them from all...
Keys to a strong fundraising offer
A few weeks ago I wrote about what it takes to have a strong fundraising offer. While on vacation this week in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, I found a great...
How often can you use a match challenge in the mail? (Tip #21)
Matching challenges help increase direct mail response rates and total revenue. I've seen nonprofits that use matches in as many as 7-10 of their mail appeals each year. Probably seems...
Are you constantly reinventing your direct mail wheel? (Tip #20)
Find a control package (or several). I'm always surprised when I talk to nonprofit organizations and hear things like, "we're working on a new holiday package because our board thinks...
What makes for a strong direct mail fundraising offer? (Tip #19)
A good offer is one that is specific, tangible, urgent and solvable. Here are some examples: Your gift of $19.40 will provide holiday meals for 10 hungry, homeless, hurting people...
A solid website is the key to your integrated media strategy
Your website should (read: must) be the focal point of your entire integrated fundraising strategy. Why? Simply put, 99% of your donors will never walk through the doors of your...
23 Questions for More Effective Fundraising Copy
Do you want your fundraising letters to raise more money? If so, be sure to ask these 23 questions each time you write a letter: Do I have a compelling...
How to know when direct mail isn’t a good fundraising tool for your org (Tip #18)
Not all fundraising offers are made for direct mail. Some causes just don't lend themselves to direct mail. This can be because your audience is so small you can't get...