You may have seen on the news that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) a huge drug company has 'challenged' the drug industry to make loads of drugs available more cheaply in poorer countries, invest a big slice of its profits into projects in the least developed countries and importantly, will release patents and IP relevant to research into 'neglected diseases'.
The cynics will note that 'neglected diseases' could also be termed 'not profitable diseases' but the release of information will still be useful nonetheless.
All good news, and hopefully will be followed by other drug companies, helping them to shed their terrible reputations for profiteering.
However, MSF and other respected NGOs are not happy that this new deal doesn't include HIV / AIDs drugs.
Without including these, GSK is getting a lot of good PR and spinning some nice publicity wins, but really, including HIV will save more lives.
Click here to read more from MSF on the GSK statement.
Sean
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Bush fire tragedy
Australia has been hit by what is likely to be our worst peacetime disaster, with a death toll expected to be over 200. Many more homes have been destroyed and even some towns wiped off the map.
We are used to bush fires here, they are part of the natural cycle of our forests and maybe species need fire to propagate.
But we are not used to people dying. Although small in scale compared to many foreign disasters it is very difficult to put a relative comparison to any human tragedy.
Read more about the fires from the main newspaper in Victoria (the state where the fatal fires are burning) here, and of course you can make a donation through the Red Cross here.
With charities in Australia, there is inevitable pressure to pull their fundraising activity, whether out of some respectful drive or a feeling that their own campaigns will suffer. Please don't. Your cause is still important - and people still care about your beneficiaries.
Our experience is that in times like this -as with the Christmas Tsunami and the Chinese Earthquake, the charities that suffer a decline in income are those that pull back from fundraising. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
I do recommend fundraising in-house for the Bush Fire appeal, encouraging staff and volunteers to donate.
In addition, if you are a community based organisation you may want to consider coordinating your own members activities. You need to be very careful with 'ultra vires' (acting beyond your remit) but they will be giving anyway, and you may be able to make the effort more effective.
A great example of a recent ultra vires action, which I was very happy with as a Greenpeace donor, was when Greenpeace sent the Rainbow Warrior to ferry MSF doctors to Aceh after the Tsunami.
One last sad thought, as pointed out to me by a charity CEO yesterday was that they were stopping the appeal mailings that were due to be sent to people in towns and villages that no longer exist.
Sean
Our man in North America, Jonathon Grapsas is from Melbourne, not far from the fires, and his take on the tragedy can be read here.
We are used to bush fires here, they are part of the natural cycle of our forests and maybe species need fire to propagate.
But we are not used to people dying. Although small in scale compared to many foreign disasters it is very difficult to put a relative comparison to any human tragedy.
Read more about the fires from the main newspaper in Victoria (the state where the fatal fires are burning) here, and of course you can make a donation through the Red Cross here.
With charities in Australia, there is inevitable pressure to pull their fundraising activity, whether out of some respectful drive or a feeling that their own campaigns will suffer. Please don't. Your cause is still important - and people still care about your beneficiaries.
Our experience is that in times like this -as with the Christmas Tsunami and the Chinese Earthquake, the charities that suffer a decline in income are those that pull back from fundraising. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
I do recommend fundraising in-house for the Bush Fire appeal, encouraging staff and volunteers to donate.
In addition, if you are a community based organisation you may want to consider coordinating your own members activities. You need to be very careful with 'ultra vires' (acting beyond your remit) but they will be giving anyway, and you may be able to make the effort more effective.
A great example of a recent ultra vires action, which I was very happy with as a Greenpeace donor, was when Greenpeace sent the Rainbow Warrior to ferry MSF doctors to Aceh after the Tsunami.
One last sad thought, as pointed out to me by a charity CEO yesterday was that they were stopping the appeal mailings that were due to be sent to people in towns and villages that no longer exist.
Sean
Our man in North America, Jonathon Grapsas is from Melbourne, not far from the fires, and his take on the tragedy can be read here.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Bush Fire Appeal
This got to me. I really advocate human stories not statistics, but the humanity of this poignant reminder hits at my fundraising core.
An email from the FIA (Fundraising Institute of Australia).
----------
Dear Fundraiser,
As a result of the recent bush fires in Victoria Australia Post has issued a list of the affected areas which we would like to pass onto you, particularly if you are involved in direct mail campaigns.
Area where there will be no delivery
Marysville - mail held at Healesville DC
Narbethong - mail held at Healesville DC
Steeles Creek - Christmas Hills - mail held at Yarra Glen LPO
Kinglake - mail held at Whittlesea LPO
Kinglake West - mail held at Whittlesea LPO
Eden Park - mail held at Whittlesea (now possible partial delivery)
Bruces Creek - mail held at Whittlesea LPO
St Andrews - mail held at Research DC
Wandong - now possible partial delivery,
- P/O Boxes Delivered, Residential not delivered
Hazelwood Nth & Sth - mail held at Morwell DC
Jeeralang - mail held at Morwell DC
Gormandale - mail held at Traralgon DC
Currajong - mail held at Traralgon DC
Callignee - mail held at Traralgon DC
Dederang - mail held at Wodonga DC
Stanley - mail held at Beechworth DC
Flowerdale - mail held at Broadford LPO
Buxton - Mail held at Alexandra
Taggerty - Mail held at Alexandra
Thornton - Mail held at Alexandra
Won Wron -mail held at Yarram
Calrossie - mail held at Yarram
Devon North - mail held at Yarram
Macks Creek - mail held at Yarram
Tarra Valley - mail held at Yarram
Clonbinane - Mail held at Broadford
Glenburn - Mail held at Yea
Hazeldene - Mail held at Broadford
Eildon - Mail held at Alexandra
Kiewa Valley - Mail held at Wodonga
Beechworth - Roadside held at Beechworth
Wooragee - Mail held at Beechworth
Mt Beauty - Mail held at Wodonga
Eskdale - Mail held at Tallangatta
Areas that have been partially effected today
Toolangi, Chum Creek, Warburton (Patch Creek), Whittlesea RSD's (Pheasant Creek - Eden Park, Kilmore RSD's, Yea, Alexandra, Broadford, Yackandandah, Myrtleford, Bright, Traralgon Sth, Flynn, Neerim, Sth Noojee, Hiawatha, Stacey's Bridge, Jack River, Trawool, Tallarook, Tallangatta
Areas that it is very likely that there will be future impacts
Kilmore/ Broadford/ YeaNeerim Sth & Hazelwood AreasBeechworth AreaWoodside / Yarram / Alberton
Healesville - Has been put on high alert
Estimate on Mail carried over today (where known)
Mt Beauty 1500 articles
Yackandah 700
Broadford 1500
Alexandra 2600
Yea 1700
Morwell 650
Traralgon 800
Yarram 600
Marysville/Narbethong 660
Kinglake 1600
Kinglake West 600
Wandong 1800
Bruces Creek 400
Please make a gift online http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm.
Sean
An email from the FIA (Fundraising Institute of Australia).
----------
Dear Fundraiser,
As a result of the recent bush fires in Victoria Australia Post has issued a list of the affected areas which we would like to pass onto you, particularly if you are involved in direct mail campaigns.
Area where there will be no delivery
Marysville - mail held at Healesville DC
Narbethong - mail held at Healesville DC
Steeles Creek - Christmas Hills - mail held at Yarra Glen LPO
Kinglake - mail held at Whittlesea LPO
Kinglake West - mail held at Whittlesea LPO
Eden Park - mail held at Whittlesea (now possible partial delivery)
Bruces Creek - mail held at Whittlesea LPO
St Andrews - mail held at Research DC
Wandong - now possible partial delivery,
- P/O Boxes Delivered, Residential not delivered
Hazelwood Nth & Sth - mail held at Morwell DC
Jeeralang - mail held at Morwell DC
Gormandale - mail held at Traralgon DC
Currajong - mail held at Traralgon DC
Callignee - mail held at Traralgon DC
Dederang - mail held at Wodonga DC
Stanley - mail held at Beechworth DC
Flowerdale - mail held at Broadford LPO
Buxton - Mail held at Alexandra
Taggerty - Mail held at Alexandra
Thornton - Mail held at Alexandra
Won Wron -mail held at Yarram
Calrossie - mail held at Yarram
Devon North - mail held at Yarram
Macks Creek - mail held at Yarram
Tarra Valley - mail held at Yarram
Clonbinane - Mail held at Broadford
Glenburn - Mail held at Yea
Hazeldene - Mail held at Broadford
Eildon - Mail held at Alexandra
Kiewa Valley - Mail held at Wodonga
Beechworth - Roadside held at Beechworth
Wooragee - Mail held at Beechworth
Mt Beauty - Mail held at Wodonga
Eskdale - Mail held at Tallangatta
Areas that have been partially effected today
Toolangi, Chum Creek, Warburton (Patch Creek), Whittlesea RSD's (Pheasant Creek - Eden Park, Kilmore RSD's, Yea, Alexandra, Broadford, Yackandandah, Myrtleford, Bright, Traralgon Sth, Flynn, Neerim, Sth Noojee, Hiawatha, Stacey's Bridge, Jack River, Trawool, Tallarook, Tallangatta
Areas that it is very likely that there will be future impacts
Kilmore/ Broadford/ YeaNeerim Sth & Hazelwood AreasBeechworth AreaWoodside / Yarram / Alberton
Healesville - Has been put on high alert
Estimate on Mail carried over today (where known)
Mt Beauty 1500 articles
Yackandah 700
Broadford 1500
Alexandra 2600
Yea 1700
Morwell 650
Traralgon 800
Yarram 600
Marysville/Narbethong 660
Kinglake 1600
Kinglake West 600
Wandong 1800
Bruces Creek 400
Please make a gift online http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm.
Sean
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Bush Fire Tragedy
Australia has experienced what is likely to be our worst peacetime disaster, with a death toll expected to be over 200 as a result of the fires that ravaged parts of the state of Victoria.
With many homes being destroyed and some towns razed to the ground, it has been a devastating week for all Australians, especially those in the towns and communities directly affected by the fires.
We are used to bush fires here, they are part of the natural cycle of our forests and many species need fire to propagate. But we are not used to people dying. Although small in scale compared to many foreign disasters it is very difficult to put a relative comparison to any human tragedy.
Already Australians have generously donated $28 million dollars due largely to the heart wrenching stories reported by the media.
With charities in Australia, there is inevitable pressure to reduce their fundraising activity, whether out of some respectful drive or a feeling that their own campaigns will suffer.
Please don't.
Your cause is still important - and people still care about your beneficiaries. Our experience is that in times like this, as with the Christmas Tsunami a few years ago and the Chinese Earthquake last year, the charities that suffer the biggest decline in income are those that pull back from fundraising.
It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Click here to read an article that I co-authored with Martin Paul, our Senior Consultant about 'Tsunami suicide'.
I do recommend fundraising in-house from your own staff and volunteers to support the bushfire appeal. In addition, if you are a community based organisation you may want to consider coordinating your own members’ activities to support the bushfire appeal. You need to be very careful when you act beyond your remit (ultra vires), but they will be giving anyway, and you may be able to make the effort more effective.
For instance, a great example of a recent action like this, which I was very happy with as a Greenpeace donor, was when Greenpeace sent the Rainbow Warrior to ferry Médecins Sans Frontières doctors to Aceh after the Tsunami.
One last sad thought, as pointed out to me by a charity CEO I met with yesterday, was that they were stopping the appeal mailings that were due to be sent to people in towns and villages that no longer exist.
Sean Triner
Read more about the fires from the main newspaper in Victoria here, and of course you can make a donation through the Red Cross here.
Our man in North America, Jonathon Grapsas is from Melbourne, not far from the fires, and his take on the tragedy can be seen here.
With many homes being destroyed and some towns razed to the ground, it has been a devastating week for all Australians, especially those in the towns and communities directly affected by the fires.
We are used to bush fires here, they are part of the natural cycle of our forests and many species need fire to propagate. But we are not used to people dying. Although small in scale compared to many foreign disasters it is very difficult to put a relative comparison to any human tragedy.
Already Australians have generously donated $28 million dollars due largely to the heart wrenching stories reported by the media.
With charities in Australia, there is inevitable pressure to reduce their fundraising activity, whether out of some respectful drive or a feeling that their own campaigns will suffer.
Please don't.
Your cause is still important - and people still care about your beneficiaries. Our experience is that in times like this, as with the Christmas Tsunami a few years ago and the Chinese Earthquake last year, the charities that suffer the biggest decline in income are those that pull back from fundraising.
It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Click here to read an article that I co-authored with Martin Paul, our Senior Consultant about 'Tsunami suicide'.
I do recommend fundraising in-house from your own staff and volunteers to support the bushfire appeal. In addition, if you are a community based organisation you may want to consider coordinating your own members’ activities to support the bushfire appeal. You need to be very careful when you act beyond your remit (ultra vires), but they will be giving anyway, and you may be able to make the effort more effective.
For instance, a great example of a recent action like this, which I was very happy with as a Greenpeace donor, was when Greenpeace sent the Rainbow Warrior to ferry Médecins Sans Frontières doctors to Aceh after the Tsunami.
One last sad thought, as pointed out to me by a charity CEO I met with yesterday, was that they were stopping the appeal mailings that were due to be sent to people in towns and villages that no longer exist.
Sean Triner
Read more about the fires from the main newspaper in Victoria here, and of course you can make a donation through the Red Cross here.
Our man in North America, Jonathon Grapsas is from Melbourne, not far from the fires, and his take on the tragedy can be seen here.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Swap or Die
Reciprocal mailings, or swaps, are still the best way for charities to reach potential donors.
Response rates are great, and any long term impact on retention is mitigated much more than tenfold by the increased numbers of donors acquired, more cheaply than any other method.
But some charities still won't swap their donors. In tough times this is unacceptable - steps need to be taken to swap, or changes made to privacy / data protection statements to allow charities to swap. Australian fundraisers have been particularly reticent to get on with it, but even in the UK and the USA I still hear of charities refusing to use their own database to get more donors.
A lot of this is not the individual fundraisers fault - they maybe don't know how it works, their bosses don't like it or they don't know how to start.
Below you can see a useful (old, but still relevant) presentation looking at a few of the issues from swapping.
In addition, I have written a paper giving a load more detail on swapping - it may have an Aussie spin, but should be useful to fundraisers worldwide. The paper is being proof-read right now, but following a comment from Mr Anonymous on a recent blog I thought it useful to publish this blog now. I will post a link to the full paper once it is ready.
Sean
Response rates are great, and any long term impact on retention is mitigated much more than tenfold by the increased numbers of donors acquired, more cheaply than any other method.
But some charities still won't swap their donors. In tough times this is unacceptable - steps need to be taken to swap, or changes made to privacy / data protection statements to allow charities to swap. Australian fundraisers have been particularly reticent to get on with it, but even in the UK and the USA I still hear of charities refusing to use their own database to get more donors.
A lot of this is not the individual fundraisers fault - they maybe don't know how it works, their bosses don't like it or they don't know how to start.
Below you can see a useful (old, but still relevant) presentation looking at a few of the issues from swapping.
In addition, I have written a paper giving a load more detail on swapping - it may have an Aussie spin, but should be useful to fundraisers worldwide. The paper is being proof-read right now, but following a comment from Mr Anonymous on a recent blog I thought it useful to publish this blog now. I will post a link to the full paper once it is ready.
Sean
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