IFC-2013
The Smartest Way to Guarantee Mediocre Results
In the year 2000 my charity employer sent me on a course. Brand new to fundraising, many of the ideas were extremely useful. And I was impressed by a neat system which our tutor gave Read more…
IFC-2013
Fail Fast, Fail Forward
I’ve just got back from the wonderful IFC conference in Holland. Tuesday to Friday was a blur of chats, sessions, drinks, chats, more sessions and a lot of laughs. The IFC is one of my Read more…
IFC-2013
Want Loyal Donors? Then Stop Recruiting Them
Thoughts from IFC 2013 Whichever numbers you look at, from whichever angle you look, retention rates in our sector are appalling. Why? Well have you ever thought that the way we bring people in is Read more…
IFC-2013
Building a New Lexicon Part 1: Fundraising
At the IFC this week I will be presenting a completely new session on changing your mind-set, changing your words and changing the way you think about fundraising. A powerful set of challenges to begin Read more…
IFC-2013
Trustworthy and transparent charities required…
Legacy fundraising can be a tough job… along with the difficulties colleagues, including other fundraisers, often have in really understanding how this area of fundraising works, there can be the constant pressure to measure KPIs Read more…
communication
We are animals: the case for empathy
When on holiday recently in Iceland on a remote, deserted road I saw two sheep being hit by a truck. I stared aghast as one twitched and quivered in its death throes, paralysed on its Read more…
IFC-2013
Friendraising, what’s in it for you?
“Everybody who donates to our organization is a friend to us. We make no difference in how we treat our donors.” It’s about a year ago when Eveline Aendekerk, executive director of dance4life, said this to me. At first I thought she shared this as her ‘vision on fundraising’ to me, as a lot of fundraisers do. But she went on and told me about the friends4life concept. And I learned that when Eveline talks about her donors as her friends, she means it literally. (more…)
donor service
The pursuit of happiness (or how to not kill a donor)
There are statistics and numbers that stay on your mind for months and constantly challenge your assumptions. One of the numbers that keeps me awake at night (seriously!) is the ratio 6 vs. 59. Yes, you know, or you should know, this is the % of customer attrition in the commercial world vs. the nonprofit sector, according to Bloomerang. (more…)
database
Panning for gold
Identifying those crucial supporter insights that underpin all great new fundraising products In preparing for our Innovation Masterclass at the IFC, Andrew Bathgate of Good Innovation, Rob Cummins of ActionAid UK and myself were clear Read more…
governance
Why fundraisers and boards don’t get along…
Earlier this year, the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non Profit Studies (ACPNS) at QUT released research examining leadership and fundraising in Australia. While this study highlighted some positive themes there were also significant concerns Read more…
IFC-2013
A Treasure Trove of New Insights for Fundraisers
Now here’s a thing I don’t understand. I’ve picked it from a very long list of things I don’t understand which includes; differential equations (obviously), how to get jam to set properly (recent problem), and Read more…
