Once upon a time, the story says, there once was a girl named Pandora. On her wedding day, the mighty God Zeus gave her a beautiful box as a gift. The box came with a note, which said: “DO NOT OPEN.” Attached to the note was the key to the box. “Why would Zeus give…
DetailsYour Agents of Good, as our cherished and punished clients know, have banned the word “data” from our language. It’s not “data”. They are DONORS! It’s not “extracting the data”, or “data segmentation” it’s “finding donors to inspire” and “talking to people the way they deserve to be talked to”. A few nights ago, with…
DetailsLast week, I stood in my kitchen sorting through the empty containers, dirty sock (singular), torn pieces of paper and other various pieces of riffraff that sat in my daughters school back pack. I came across a form from her class. “BRING $2 IN TO SCHOOL TO SUPPORT AUTISM & GET A CUPCAKE!” I, of…
DetailsWelcome to the latest instalment of our “Star Wars” themed 101 series! To date, we have had a look at Direct Mail 101, Thank you letters 101, Newsletters 101 and today Rory Green will take us through Legacies 101. We both want to send our massive hugs and appreciation to two incredible Canadian fundraisers, Fraser…
DetailsYou’ve been to that cocktail party where you’re having a great conversation about “that” thing – that thing you both agree drives you crazy/makes you happy/tears your heart apart/have a fully belly laugh – and in the moment that follows, you look at each other and realize you’ve just shared a moment with another human…
DetailsA boy and his mummy are holding hands on the walk to school on a bright, sunny morning. Mummy breathes a small sigh of relief that today is not the morning he is suddenly to old to reach for her hand. Every day, this is a precious gift, she thinks. She brushes these thoughts away…
DetailsTwo words that send eyeballs rolling, directors scurrying, donors yawning… I’ve talked to fundraisers who would rather shine the leather shoes of the world – twice! – than work on their annual report for their charity. I don’t blame them. Most of them are boring. Like – soul destroyingly boring. But they don’t have to…
DetailsThis post could also be referred to as “The Empire Strikes Back”… but I heard that was already used somewhere. Nonetheless, we (Rory Green and John Lepp) are back with a new post to our Star Wars series! The concept was simple. Let’s use a story that many, many people of all walks are familiar…
DetailsGuest post from The Godfather of Good, David Love: A year ago, I used this precious space to rail against the blizzard of dull, boring requests for money that didn’t take the time to recognize I was a monthly donor. I was about to rail again, this time about the blizzard of dull, boring requests…
DetailsThe end of year ejaculation of charity mailings, eblasts and commercials has reminded this donor and direct marketer that the success or failure of your year end fundraising can and will come down to one thing. The story you tell. I love siting in board rooms watching people get all angry and sweaty arguing over…
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