Donor Recognition Pays
On holiday in Devon recently, I visited the famous Donkey Sanctuary. Two things struck me. Firstly, entry was free – a great way to attract new donors from around the country. Secondly, on the walls around the site were huge boards naming their legacy donors, year by year. And I mean huge! They were unmissable […]
Fundraising Interns – Good Experience or Exploitation?
Tesco and some other big retailers recently came under fire for not paying young people on work experience schemes, yet this is exactly how some well-known charities behave when they take on unpaid interns. As a sector, we pride ourselves on our ethical values, so where does offering experience and CV fodder become exploitation of […]
Creating a Legacy Culture
Legacy marketing can be a bit “us” and “them” can’t it? We the charity ask them the supporters for a donation, using marketing techniques to overlay and crunch the data. We segment and target prospects that match the best profiles and have the greatest propensity to give. It can all seem a bit one way, […]
Mind your language!
Last month at the IoF West Midlands conference, Liz Loudon brought a useful reminder of the importance of effective language in fundraising. In an excellent presentation, she gave valuable tips on making an impact with appeal writing. What rang most true for me was her observation of the power of Anglo Saxon words (and I […]
Friends New and Old
We would like to welcome new clients Women and Children First and the Rudolf Steiner School in Kings Langley, as well as thanking existing clients Graeae Theatre for retaining us again.
No Will – No Legacy
A good friend of mine is currently enduring the nightmare of sorting out the affairs of an aged relative who has died intestate. It is the last thing she needs and is very frustrating, as the relative in question had been told by all around her to make a will but never did. Now she […]
The IoF – Life Goes On
The shock resignation of Amanda McLean as CEO of the IoF has come at a difficult time for the Institute, as it is also still seeking a permanent Chair of Trustees. I was present at an IoF event last Monday, at which Amanda was expected. Her apologies were given, as she was said to have […]
Effectiveness versus Efficiency
Every couple of years, the tabloid media target charities that ‘waste money on fundraising and administration’. So what can you do to protect your charity from this charge? It’s something we’re all familiar with and can be very damaging if your charity is labelled in this way. Donors will certainly think twice about supporting you […]
Aiming for Zero Carbon
From 2011 Wootton George Consulting is aiming to become carbon neutral. To support this goal, we will be planting a tree for every new client contract we won during the year. For many years, we our environmental policy has set out how the company seeks to limit its environmental impacts. Amongst other things, this involves choosing rail travel […]
Increasing Gift Aid take from higher rate taxpayers
Most charities know about and are using Gift Aid to increase their income from donations. However, there is one aspect of Gift Aid that is often overlooked and which could bring in valuable additional funds to those charities with donors who pay higher rate tax. 40% and 50% tax payers can reclaim the difference between what they have paid in […]