Hi! We're Julie Cooper and Brett Cooper, fundraising copywriters for great causes. Does your fundraising bring in as much money as it could? You can send donor communications that stir hearts to action. We'd love to help. π Start by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
If you've got a doggone bone to pick with the year-end crunch, we've got your back. Try this checklist to scratch that I-need-some-clarity itch. This is the 113th issue of the Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell your fundraising friends. (Your fundraising friends can βsubscribe here for free.)β
In this issue:
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
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Hi Reader,
Last night, Brett and I were watching an old 60 Minutes episode about child prodigies (we've linked one of the segments below). It was astounding.
One thing stood out to me: All prodigies have near-perfect recall β their memory is a superpower.
For example, a boy named Jake was a prodigy so remarkably adept at math and science that at age 12 he was already attending university and predicting he will one day make important breakthroughs in physics.
Jake aced every memory test given to him, including one where he memorized 28 states given to him in random order. He could repeat them backwards and forwards, both immediately after the test and months later.
What's my point?
I forget.
Just kidding. My point is that we mere mortals with average, porous memories, need mundane strategies.
E.g., checklists.
Checklists are underrated. They don't get enough love. They're just sort of put in a corner and taken for granted.
I say, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!"
I hope you feel the same because . . .
Actually, what you see below are just screenshots.
βClick on them or click here to access the document, which includes a labeled appeal letter we wrote for a client based in New Zealand.
We sure hope this helps! (Maybe print it for reference?)
For your brain, heart, and funny bone...
Until next time: May you keep your lovable checklists out of all corners and front and center where they belong!
Grateful,
PS: We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with family next week, so we'll be back in 2 weeks. Meantime, here's the latest in our weekly video series, Win It in a Minute. You can (and maybe want to?) subscribe here.
In this video, Michelle asks: βWhat's the difference between an offer, an ask, and an indirect ask?"
Tom Ahern and Jeff Brooks answer...
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Hi! We're Julie Cooper and Brett Cooper, fundraising copywriters for great causes. Does your fundraising bring in as much money as it could? You can send donor communications that stir hearts to action. We'd love to help. π Start by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
Well, hello there, friend! (And a special welcome to the new subscribers from Martha's Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative whom we had the pleasure of training earlier this week!) This is the 131st Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can subscribe here for free.) In this issue: β π¬ Direct Mail + digital (like finding a puppy in your letterbox) β Are you ready for the Great Wealth Transfer? Do you want more bequests?...
Welcome, You! This is the 130th Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a colleague. (Your colleague can subscribe here for free.) In this issue: β "...you, someone who loves them!" (Identity-based fundraising writing.) β Mail Bag π¬ β Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you Wednesday, April 17, 2024 Hi Reader, Some tips are so simple that, when you hear them, you might have the urge to smack your forehead and exclaim, "I should have thought of that!" and "I can...
Welcome, You! This is the 129th Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a colleague. (Your colleague can subscribe here for free.) In this issue: β Photos not required. But if you do... β 3 Tips for choosing the right photo for your appeal β Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you Thursday, April 11, 2024 Hi Reader, If you read my fundraising photo tips newsletter from last week, this right here is where I pull a Columbo and say, "Just one more thing." (If you...