Companionate love is the love that we experience for family, friends or those who are otherwise close to us. It has deep links to wellbeing, and donors also experience a sense of temperature with it, specifically a feeling of warmth. There are many uses for companionate love in fundraising and it is important, but how do we use Companionate Love in fundraising?
Read MoreWe can probably all agree that some additional love is due. After all, without their kindness and generosity we’d have no way to pursue our missions and drive societal change.
But what kind of love should we offer and between whom should it be fostered?
Read MoreEvery other person seems to be asking me whether I thought AI was going to replace me as a fundraising copywriter. But although AI might be able to do the mechanics of my work, I seriously questioned whether it could build authentic relationships. I added AI to the list of things to ask Prof. Jen Shang about.
Read MorePhilanthropic psychology starts with the heart. It starts from assuming your donors are caring and loving people. Stronger relationships and connections lead to better wellbeing for your donors – and their gifts flow from that. This ‘heart-first’ approach is a perspective shift.
Read MoreAdvocates of donor-centred fundraising and the community-centric fundraising movement have butted heads over the last few years. But what if we could invite donors to be part of something where the essence of who they are allows them to forge deeper connections than “donor as hero”?
Read MoreDonor-centred fundraising was becoming a dirty concept. Pressure to move the fundraising story away from the donor was mounting. This made it very hard for fundraising copywriting practitioners like me. I even wondered whether I should bow out of fundraising copywriting altogether. But then I learned more about Philanthropic Psychology.
Read MoreIn the heart of historic Prague, the European Fundraising Association's (EFA) Skillshare 2023 unfolded, promising knowledge, innovation, and inspiration under the theme "ELEVATE & INNOVATE: EMPOWERING FUNDRAISING IN EUROPE." This event highlighted the vital role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the nonprofit sector and its future prospects. As a participant, I can affirm that it was an exceptional experience!
Read More“Negatives raise more money than positives”, right? Maybe. But is it even the right debate to be having? We believe not. The discussion should be around how we can fundraise in a way which is meaningful to the donor and delivers them the opportunity to enhance their wellbeing. In this blog, Prof. Jen Shang explains more, with an example from USA for UNHCR.
Read MoreThreats or danger posed by our environment are nothing new and have continuously challenged humans for centuries. Now we have new insight shedding light on how threats affect people’s intention to donate. What better time to understand the impact of threats on donation intention than right after a global pandemic? It turns out that this knowledge can seriously impact your fundraising!
Read MoreFor almost thirty years I’ve been championing the importing from the commercial world of satisfaction, commitment, and trust as relationship measures that can help nonprofits manage loyalty. But it’s long past time to stop our reliance on our for-profit colleagues and begin to create new models and perspectives for ourselves.
At IFSP we are just beginning to see the results from our new two-year study of donor loyalty and retention focused on the factors that drive actual future behaviour.
Read MoreVu Le’s provocative article on donor-centrism has caused heated debate within the sector. But what are the issues with this critique, how do differing definitions cause tension and how does donor wellbeing fit into the argument? Prof. Adrian Sargeant shares his thoughts on Vu’s arguments.
Read MoreWhen deciding how to communicate about legacies, fundraisers should be conscious that supporters thinking about bequest giving are thinking in terms of a much longer timescale than those who are thinking about making a gift in the present. In 2008 we found that the language of lifetime and legacy giving was different. We share these key findings here, together with our more recent thinking on how to add genuinely more value for the donor and enhance the wellbeing that can accrue from the legacy decision making process.
Read MoreMatched giving appeals seem to have become the norm in the USA, and there is evidence that they do work. But what match offer works best and would other approaches lead to better ROI? And are there better ways to care for our donors? This blog from Professors Adrian Sargeant and Jen Shang explores matched giving and examples using the new science of Philanthropic Psychology.
Read MoreThe knives are out for philanthropists. Editorial coverage of their motives, gifts, and impact is increasingly negative, particularly in the UK, but in the USA and elsewhere too. Does it matter? Many worry that it does. Is Philanthropist the identity we should use to define others when they give and how are we fuelling differences in terms of superiority/inferiority by using terms like major donor. This blog by Prof. Adrian Sargeant explores a post-modernist look at philanthropy.
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It was with immense sadness that we learned of the passing of our dear friend and colleague Simone Joyaux, this past Sunday. We remember her warmth, humor and generosity (in every possible sense) with immense affection. She was very much loved and will be sorely missed.
Our thoughts are with Tom and her family.
Read MoreI don’t see donor centricity as the dominant paradigm in fundraising. For that to be true, the majority of organizations in our sector would need to be able to identify donors needs and follow through on their satisfaction, and they do not. The metrics we use to assess our practice are almost exclusively financial and we care little for our supporters and how we make them feel. True donor centricity would require organizations to look to the wellbeing and growth of their supporters. And as a sector, we’re not there yet.
Read MoreWhat does love have to do with fundraising? What happens when you combine identity, wellbeing and love? What is philanthropic psychology? To find the answers to all your questions, read on.
Read MoreIt has been five and a half years since the tragic death of Olive Cooke. Most fundraisers will remember the media furore that erupted in the months immediately following her death, when it was revealed she had been receiving close on 3000 mailings from charities in the course of a typical year. A report, and new regulator followed, promising the sector would do better. Yet how far have we really come?
Read MoreDo you really know who your supporters are? The more you understand about your donors’ identities, the more you can speak to them in ways that resonate. To kickstart 2021, we’re challenging everyone to really get to know who the people that support you are. Want to know how to go about it? Read on.
Read MoreWhy do we still use military metaphors in fundraising, and descriptions of donors that we wouldn’t use externally? Is it time to shake up our vocabulary and celebrate the best of everyone?
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