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...
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...
Who needs loyal donors when you have your own named typeface?
Sir John Hegarty, who knows a thing or two about brands, recently posed an important question on LinkedIn – What do you do when a brand goes wrong? His answer was simple. “Go back to your roots.” Ask yourself some questions: What made you famous?Why did people...
OK fundraisers, which one of these ads generated the best response?
Which ad actually worked? Look at them first. Then read why the answer matters more than you think. Before you read on, stop for a moment. Look through the four ads Bluefrog created for UK for UNHCR. Which one do you think performed best? Got...
When Fundraising Flatlines: Lessons from 500 Charities
Here’s a question for you: Take a look at these two graphs that illustrate the ROI and fundraising profit (income after fundraising expenditure) for a major UK charity over a 16 year period. You’ll obviously see that there’s pretty impressive growth over the 2010s through...
The Bleedin’ Obvious Guide to Why Income Usually Falls After a Rebrand
Because nothing says give generously like a logo no one recognises. Some of you might remember a LinkedIn post I wrote a while back looking at what tends to happen to income after a charity rebrands. You can find it here, but – spoiler alert –...
When a Makeover Breaks the Magic: The Cost of Changing What Works
Imagine this: a new fundraiser joins a charity that has a well-oiled, effective appeals programme. They’re keen to improve results and decide to spruce up the next appeal. No major overhaul, no rebranding or changing the core offer. Just a redesign to give those “tired”...
Fundraising is flatlining. Do you want to do something about it?
The latest CAF UK Giving Report is out. And on the surface, the numbers look strong. In 2024, the UK donated £15.4 billion to charity. That looks like significant progress… until you realise we’re haven't caught up with where we should be. If charitable giving...
A mini-masterclass in direct mail
If you've been following my recent rants over on LinkedIn (I mean, highly insightful fundraising critiques), you’ll know I’ve been on a bit of a roll about what NOT to do if you actually want to raise more money. As my Gen Alpha daughter would...
Let’s talk fundraising. Let’s talk sandwiches.
The charity sector always seems to be looking for the next big donor group. And from what I see and hear, more often than not, all eyes turn to Millennials. The thinking seems to go: if we just find the right way to ask, they’ll...
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?