How to run a quick supporter experience audit
This was originally part of my recent Donor First beats Digital First post. But the length made it too unwieldy, so I subsequently shared it on Twitter instead. It went down well and generated a few questions so I thought I’d share the original long…
Why do people give? The mid-level donor podcast with Angela Cluff
This is a must-listen for anyone interested in mid-level donors. It’s actually a must-listen for everyone, but particularly for those with mid-level donors within their remit. Angela Cluff started out her career at the British Heart Foundation before moving to the NSPCC where she was…
Donor First always beats Digital First
Buzzwords can be difficult creatures. As soon as they start appearing in the fundraising lexicon, they slowly build their power until they have a life of their own. One that I’m hearing pretty regularly at the moment is Digital First. It turns up in conversations…
The Ladder of Fundraising Effectiveness
As one of the founders of modern fundraising, Redmond Mullin left us a huge amount of his knowledge in his books. If you find a copy of Foundations of Fundraising and The Fundraising Handbook grab them. Flick through a few pages and you’ll soon find…
What can you learn from the early days of fundraising ads on TV?
This post follows the review of the early days of NSPCC TV advertising produced by Giles Pegram which can be read here. You need to read it before tucking in to what follows. There are hundreds of different charity ads on our TVs, but by…
How much has DRTV fundraising evolved since it was first made available to charities in 1991?
As one of the first fundraisers to use the medium when it was newly authorised in 1991, Giles shares his memories of the TV campaigns run by the NSPCC in to the 2000s as well as his thoughts on what – if anything – has…
How to raise money to build a cathedral (medieval edition)
One of my key learnings from my conversation with Giles Pegram (you can listen to the podcast here) was the recognition that the techniques he used for the NSPCC appeals were not new – they dated back to the middle ages. So after our chat,…
Why do people give? The podcast with Lyndall Stein
Lyndall is a remarkable fundraiser. Her experience includes setting up the UK fundraising operation for the African National Congress when Nelson Mandela was still in prison. She then went on to work for the Terrence Higgins Trust when HIV and AIDS were still beyond treatment…
How Oxfam used new power in the 1960s to help a group of teenagers raise £5 million.
A short while ago I met up with Giles Pegram to record his reflections and thoughts about why people give? (which you can hear here). As part of this discussion, Giles told me how he got into fundraising. His story repeatedly brought to mind the…
The twelve appeals of the year
Right. It’s almost Christmas. What do most of us do to celebrate? Spend too much, eat too much and drink too much? Probably. But there’s also time for a little retrospection. What are we proud of? What’s great? What (or who) has been a right…
