Remember the Founder I told you about last Thursday?
The one who said that his organization exists “so that donors can help these girls”?
He also asked a question that I wish more non-profits would ask themselves:
“What should we avoid in our fundraising?”
When was the last time you heard a non-profit ask that question?
There are LOTS of things to avoid in your fundraising, like the non-obvious mistakes that cost so much money, of course.
But mostly I liked that he asked it because it’s such a good question.
Two challenges for you:
- Quickly jot down a list of all the things your organization currently avoids in your appeals and newsletters. It’s likely to be an interesting list because most organizations have a set of unwritten rules for what they can and cannot talk about.
a. I can almost guarantee you that there are some things on that list that you should be including, not avoiding. For instance, if “Avoid telling stories where the person still needs help” is on your list, you should take it off.
b. Follow-up question: are there some things you should avoid for some segments of your audience, but not others? For instance, there are some things you should avoid doing in grant applications. But if you avoid them in your direct response appeal letters, you’re raising a lot less money than you could be.
- Sign up for Free Review Fridays. At 10:00 AM Pacific each Friday, I review appeals, e-appeals, and newsletters submitted by your fellow Fundraisers (and you can submit yours, too). Watch a few examples, and you’ll quickly see what to include – and what to avoid – with your appeals and newsletters!
