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...
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...
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...
Two Ps on a Pod. The one where we discuss what donors tell us about why they give with Amber Nathan
Have you ever wondered what really makes people give to charity – and why they sometimes stop? Well, we’ve got the answers for you in today’s episode of Two Ps on a Pod! Together with Giles Pegram CBE, I’m interviewing Bluefrog’s Head of Research, Amber...
Why do wealthy donors give?
Have you ever wondered what drives wealthy people to make six and seven figure gifts to charity? At Bluefrog Fundraising Limited our conversations with donors have shown us it’s rarely about tax breaks or social recognition. We always find that the reasons are deeply personal,...
Introducing Two Ps on a Pod
I've got something special for you today! Over the past few years, I've recorded several Why Do People Give podcasts with Giles Pegram CBE, which have always been well recieved. We've typically discussed specific issues affecting the sector, such as COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis,...
People give to charity for the most curious reasons
When it comes to giving to charity, there’s always a point of connection, an experience, a deep-seated memory that drives that desire to help. David’s story helps explain this. David is a donor. He’s in his early seventies and is retired. His children are grown...
Why do so many wealthy donors give so little?
If the typical UK donor has been giving just £20 a month to charity for much of the last decade, what does the typical donor from the wealthiest 1% of British society give? In my last post that highlighted the podcast with Giles Pegram, I...
Why you should stop f***ing about with your logo and stick to fundraising instead
A few weeks ago, I presented Rogare's inaugural Critical Fundraising lecture at Kingston University. My topic was charity rebranding. It's an area of work I've long been interested in. I love great brands, and as a result, I tend to track what happens after a...
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?