Why fundraising feels worse than it used to
Betwixmas reflections on how trend-chasing, short-term approval and moral signalling have combined to undermine a craft built on trust and long-term value. Regular readers here, and those of you who read my main blog over on substack, will know that I keep returning to the...
Here's a fundraising strategy for you: Why don’t we just tell donors we are broke?
When charities once admitted they were overdrawn – and donors loved them for it For all the sophistication that surrounds charity finance, fundraising strategies, and donor-care programmes, one simple truth still seems oddly difficult for many organisations to embrace – donors understand that charities sometimes...
Ten questions you should ask at your next creative DM appeal presentation
A list of questions to ask in your next creative presentation to make sure your appeal is built on native understanding rather than non-native guesswork. I was presenting a fundraising strategy recently to a group of trustees when one of them stopped me mid-slide. I’d...
If the Rich Aren’t Leaving It to Their Children… Who’s Getting the Money?
A cultural shift from inheritance to independence is reshaping how the wealthy think about their Wills – and charities need to take note. In qualitative research interviews, when you speak to people about how they intend to manage the inheritance they leave their children, one...
What's a Red Truck fundraising strategy and why haven't you got one?
The festive branding trick most fundraisers ignore – and the one thing your donors already wish you’d repeat. Christmas is starting ever earlier every year (which is another thing down to Covid). So this year I’m going full Father Christmas with some festive treats for...
Why Sara Cox Running 135 Miles for Children in Need Is A Masterclass In Genius Fundraising
Just as the annual wave of self-congratulatory Christmas charity ads begins – those glossy, John-Lewis-inspired mini-dramas that lean heavily on sentimentality – something far more powerful has been unfolding across the airwaves, and across the roads of Northumberland, County Durham and Yorkshire. A genuine masterclass...
What Drives the Charity Rebrand Reflex?
Why a tiny sector spends so much time and money changing its name and appearance – and what it reveals about us. Every few months, another charity unveils a bold new logo and a promise to “start a new chapter.” Cue the glossy launch film, a wave...
What happens when silence tells the story in fundraising?
In my presentations I often reflect on why systems break down and how the collapse of norms, logic, and accountability comes about. Why do checks and balances unravel? Why is testing a lost art? Why do people act on assumptions rather than evidence? And why...
How would you fundraise if fear didn’t hold you back?
“The single biggest block to fundraising growth is fear of criticism.” That’s what Alan Clayton told us when he joined us for a second visit to the Two Ps on a Pod sofas for a deep dive into the impact of fear on fundraising. And the more you think about it, the...
It's not a gimmick. It's a gift
I recently visited an elderly charity supporter in their home and noticed a small card displayed above their fireplace. It was a bookmark that had come from a Red Cross mailing that simply read... Never give up. During our conversation, they shared that they’d been...
The Essentials
Crack the Code to Regular Giving: Insights, Strategies, and a Special Giveaway!
‘Tis Halloween. Keep to the light and beware the Four Fundraisers of the Apocalypse!
Why do people give? The Donor Participation Project with Louis Diez.
A guide to fundraising on the back of a postcard
What does the latest research tell us about the state of fundraising?