The evil of communications departments

At the recent IFC Conference in the Netherlands, I did a session on story telling, and that all fundraising needs to revolve around stories.  Abstract and clever marketing, as well as stats and 'how clever are we' stuff just doesn't work.

Margaux Smith from UK agency bluefrog realised she was the devil.  (A devil with a good wit and prose though).

And another fundraiser's reaction on the masterclass to some of the tacky stuff that works...

Check out here what Margaux learned....

Sean

IFC - Important date. But when is it!?

I got this email today from the Resource Alliance. This is a direct screendump and hard to see, but you can see the headline 'Save The Date'. Close inspection will reveal... no date! Presumably the date is a picture, which my Outlook doesn't want to download.

The lesson? Yes - send good looking emails, bu make sure people can read at least the key info on their PDAs and other devices.

(Apologies to my friends at IFC, hopefully you can see the funny side).

Postcard from IFC: More on the recession

The big thing most people are talking about here at the IFC is the recession.

But everyone is agreed. And so are all the experts whose blogs / emails / articles I have read. They all say 'Don't panic, don't hurt yourself'.

Bottom line - what you as a charity do, in reaction to a recession, can be more deadly than what the recession will do on it's own.

If you are reliant upon corporate funding then you are probably most vulnerable. Many of the best corporate donors are (were?) banks. But if you have a sound diverse fundraising strategy, especially if it has lots of regular givers, then you are in the best situation. Don't panic.

Check out what Uncle Mal and Dan Doyle has to say here (US focused, but relevant to us all). Or check out this podcast, again very US but still relevant.

And don't forget if you want my massive rant about the recession, email and ask for it from canyouhelp@paretofundraising.com and we will get it to you.