Fundraising Is Beautiful

Beauty is overrated

Are you creating fundraising that looks great or that gets results? Often, you can do one or the other, not both. In this look at the power of the odd, unattractive, and unfashionable in direct mail, broadcast, and online, we'll show you how the quest to make your fundraising aesthetically pleasing usually leads to lower results. Mentioned in this podcast: Monday Morning Memo by Roy H. Williams.

Program #46

Play: Beauty is Overrated (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 12:22

Fundraisers beware of survey research

For the fifth installment of our State of Fundraising series, we take a look at survey research and how fundraisers can get value from it -- without being led dangerously astray. Surveys seem (and often claim) to report the truth. In reality, they reveal something else that's often far from truth.

Program #41

Play: Fundraisers beware of survey research (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 15:18

The two big trends in fundraising today

For the second installment of our new State of Fundraising series of podcasts, we interview Bill Jacobs of Grizzard, whom you can frequently read at Grizzard's Blog. Bill talks about two massive changes that are hitting the fundraising industry: The arrival of Boomers in their prime giving years and the way donors now respond to our fundraising as they please -- not necessarily in the ways we want them to. (Up to a third of response to direct mail comes in through channels other than mail!) If we don't respond to these huge and growing trends, we are in deep trouble in the coming years.

Program #38

Play: The two big trends in fundraising today (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 24:10

Haiti and Non-Haiti Fundraising

A look at what's going well, what's not, and what we need to know as the nonprofit world responds to the catastrophic January 12 Haiti Earthquake. Includes ideas for fundraisers who are not connected to the disaster.

Program #28

Play: Haiti and non-Haiti Fundraising (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 19:37

See also Fundraising in Times of Disaster, program #8 from July 2008.

What to cut when the budget is tight

Okay, you've cried, you've pleaded, you've made your case. But there's no way around it: You have to cut your fundraising budget. Find out the area you can cut with little damage to your program, the areas where cuts would be devastating, and areas where you can make meaningful savings. We can't make the cuts feel good, but we can keep them from hurting your program too much.

Program #23

Play: What to cut when the budget is tight (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 13:50

Our Holiday wishes for you

The entire Fundraising Is Beautiful staff gathers for a holiday party and to wish our listeners and friends (especially those who are both) some good things for the coming year.

Update: Woops. I neglected to include the correct name of the mp3 file here. That means you couldn't listen to this program, and it didn't go out over iTunes. So, only a month late, listen to our holiday wishes for you. It's still all true.

Program #17

Play: Holiday Wishes (right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 5:22

Donor-Centric Newsletters, Part 1: Why You Should Have One

Did you know that many donors ask for newsletters from the charities they support? A great newsletter can improve donor retention and upgrading and bring in revenue while it does it. Find out how you can benefit from the power of a donor-centric newsletter.

Program #9

Play: Newsletters Part 1
(right click or "save as" to save the file for later).

Or subscribe via iTunes here:

Time: 14:35