In a 2008 article for Target Marketing, consultant, Denny Hatch, described one of his first conversations as a new hire under Lew Smith, creative VP at Grolier Enterprises. One of the first things he asked Smith on his first day:
Why does direct mail look so junky?
Read MoreYou’re in the lobby of an office building waiting for an elevator to take you to the tenth floor.
The doors open and you step inside.
In the elevator with you is one other person. She just happens to be the perfect candidate for a long-term donor to your organization.
Read MoreThe most successful fundraising campaign in GoFundMe history has raised $2 million in just two years for a sweet little girl named Eliza.
Read More"Philanthropy is the market for love."
Dan Pallota, founder and President of the Charity Defense Council and author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential, has spent his career going to bat for the nonprofit sector.
In his 2013 TED Talk -- one of the 100 most viewed TED Talks of all time -- Pallota attacks the all-too-common idea that for nonprofits, success and trustworthiness can only be measured by the money an organization doesn't spend.
This belief, lovingly called "the Overhead Myth" by those of us involved with nonprofit fundraising, has long been a ball and chain around the ankle of every small charity. It's the belief that an organization must go to extraordinary lengths to reduce organizational costs and spending so that the highest percentage possible of every dime donated ends up in the pockets of benefactors.
The problem? Charities are already limiting overhead expenses as much as they can -- in some cases, to the detriment of fundraising efforts and operational efficiency -- and many potential donors still say it's not enough.
And that's when these donors take their money elsewhere.
But without employees, without a facility to operate out of, without transportation, and without funding to produce educational materials and promote projects, there is no charity. And when nonprofits are compelled to cut funding from these areas, the services and outreach provided by these charities suffer.
The old adage goes, "you gotta spend money to make money," and most people would probably agree -- when it comes to business. But when it comes to nonprofits? Many people still take a frugality = morality stance. And it's hurting charities -- and more importantly, the people they serve.
This TED Talk has been viewed more than 8 MILLION times. And with good reason! Take a look.
A home security company recently launched a direct mail campaign featuring an ingenious mailer: a plain non-descript cube-shaped box that could be pressed flat, slid underneath the recipient’s front door, and would pop back into shape on the other side.
Read More“How to make your next direct mail design pop!”
“Top ten eye-catching direct mail techniques!”
“Dazzle your donors with these unique designs!”
Looking for that next attention-grabbing and creative direct mail letter idea?
Read MoreHere’s a direct mail pro-tip: once you’ve finished writing the Greatest Fundraising Letter Ever, read it aloud to yourself.
Does it sound choppy? Are your sentences short? Are you starting sentences with conjunctions, repeating yourself, breaking sentences between pages, and leaving all those annoying commas out of the mix?
No?
I hate to break it to you, but if that’s the case, you might want to toss that first draft in the circular file and start again.
Read MoreIf donor retention is the #1 goal of every non-profit fundraising campaign, then donor fatigue is the #1 obstacle -- especially for small organizations relying on a limited number of regular donors.
Read MoreWhen it comes to mounting a successful fundraising campaign, it’s not about what you write, but who you’re writing to.
A thriving and long-running fundraising campaign begins with a great donor list. After all, the most inspiring and well-written letter sent to the wrong donors will fall on deaf ears.
How do you identify the best potential donors for your cause?
Read More"We truly appreciate all the work Engage has done for us this cycle. We ended up having a record-breaking income cycle and could not have done that without your support."
— Callie Fines, Director of Finance and Compliance, Emily's List
Making an emotional connection with your donor is critical to your fundraising success.
It can also be the hardest thing to do.
Read MoreNo matter how dedicated and supportive your donors have been, the worst thing you can do is consider them a “done deal.” Your donors have the freedom to champion any cause they’d like, but they’ve chosen to believe in you and support the work that you do. For that fact alone, you should never stop showing your appreciation.
Read MoreA great prospective donor...
Gave to your cause before
This is a no-brainer: what is the biggest indicator of whether or not a person will give to your cause? Giving to your cause already.
Read MoreAsking for help is never easy -- especially when it involves money.
And when you’re operating an organization funded by charitable donations, there’s no way to avoid the awkward discomfort of “begging” your donors for money throughout the year.
But while you’re worried about over-asking, you may not be asking enough.
Read MoreYou’d think a simple one-page package would consistently outperform a longer letter since it’s cheaper to produce and mail. It’s also a lot easier and faster for a donor to read one page than 20.
Read MoreI’m sure you’ve probably received a fundraising letter or solicitation at some point that said something like, “anything you can give today will help.” If you’re like most people, “anything you can give today” is likely $20, $50, or maybe even $100.
Read MoreAny relationship expert will tell you that the key to a happy long-term partnership is keeping the spark that got you two together alive. The same is true for your donors.
Read MoreNo. It’s not.
It’s expensive, inconvenient, and an incredibly inefficient way to fundraise for your organization.
With that said, if your group is able to use direct mail to fundraise, it should.
Now that you’re completely confused, I’ll explain what I mean.
Read MoreDid you know that 75% of all U.S. foundation grant making is restricted?
This is because many wealthy donors restrict their contributions from being used to cover "indirect costs," preferring that their gift is put directly toward the funding of a project.
The "indirect costs" of a non-profit organization can include anything from paying salaries to training staff to maintenancing buildings and equipment. These are the overhead costs that come with operating any organization.
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