Comments on: THE fundraising copy question http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/ income solutions for non-profits Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:47:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Steve Thomas http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Steve Thomas Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:07:06 +0000 http://www.oneicity.com/?p=2011#comment-348 @Anne P--I am not sure that I agree that Major Donors are less emotionally motivated. I do think that Major's are often thinking of investing in ministry. They are often more likely to think long-term or big concept. But I know for certain that many large donations are driven by an emotional attachment to the organization. I do believe that for large gifts, donors often need the analytical points to support their emotional decisions. I know of mid 5 figure gifts and larger that were completely motivated by emotion. The placement and timing of the gift may have been less emotional, but emotion was the driving force. It is a mistake to approach major donors with only dry, fact-centric plans devoid of emotion. st @Anne P–I am not sure that I agree that Major Donors are less emotionally motivated. I do think that Major’s are often thinking of investing in ministry. They are often more likely to think long-term or big concept. But I know for certain that many large donations are driven by an emotional attachment to the organization. I do believe that for large gifts, donors often need the analytical points to support their emotional decisions. I know of mid 5 figure gifts and larger that were completely motivated by emotion. The placement and timing of the gift may have been less emotional, but emotion was the driving force. It is a mistake to approach major donors with only dry, fact-centric plans devoid of emotion.
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]]> By: Steve Thomas http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Steve Thomas Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:00:25 +0000 http://www.oneicity.com/?p=2011#comment-345 @Tim- You are learning how I think, aren't you? ;-) Thanks so much for your feedback. st @Tim- You are learning how I think, aren’t you? ;-) Thanks so much for your feedback.
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]]> By: Tim http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Tim Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:48:36 +0000 http://www.oneicity.com/?p=2011#comment-340 "You’ll help us meet our goal of raising a bunch of money to top off our campaign thermometer." Good one! :) “You’ll help us meet our goal of raising a bunch of money to top off our campaign thermometer.” Good one! :)

]]> By: Anne P http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Anne P Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:35:40 +0000 http://www.oneicity.com/?p=2011#comment-336 Thank you Steve. I have heard that major donors are far more investment oriented and less emotionally motivated than other donors. That would seem to indicate that we should communicate differently to them. Would you agree with that concept? Thank you Steve. I have heard that major donors are far more investment oriented and less emotionally motivated than other donors. That would seem to indicate that we should communicate differently to them. Would you agree with that concept?

]]> By: Steve Thomas http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/comment-page-1/#comment-329 Steve Thomas Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:23:44 +0000 http://www.oneicity.com/?p=2011#comment-329 @Anne--Budget is a reflection of priorities. How your org spends its money demonstrates its priorities far more clearly than the mission statement. The difficulty arises when leadership has trouble articulating the thinking behind budget choices. Often in troubled times management will cut programs to protect admin staff. Take that budget shortfall dollar figure, say you need $17,890 before the end of the month. If a donor could write you a check for that amount, what would happen? Would people be fed? Learn to read? Receive clothing? What would happen? Then talk about THAT to your donors... focus them on your mission. Does that help? st @Anne–Budget is a reflection of priorities. How your org spends its money demonstrates its priorities far more clearly than the mission statement. The difficulty arises when leadership has trouble articulating the thinking behind budget choices. Often in troubled times management will cut programs to protect admin staff.

Take that budget shortfall dollar figure, say you need $17,890 before the end of the month. If a donor could write you a check for that amount, what would happen? Would people be fed? Learn to read? Receive clothing? What would happen? Then talk about THAT to your donors… focus them on your mission.

Does that help?
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]]> By: Anne P http://www.oneicity.com/blog/the-fundraising-copy-question/comment-page-1/#comment-321 Anne P Sun, 31 May 2009 20:53:06 +0000 http://www.oneicity.com/?p=2011#comment-321 Thanks for the great post. My question is how should we be talking to our donors about our money problems? Our deficit is real. We have to have their help. How else can we tell them they will make a difference if we don't talk about the budget? Thanks for the great post. My question is how should we be talking to our donors about our money problems? Our deficit is real. We have to have their help. How else can we tell them they will make a difference if we don’t talk about the budget?

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