Why do people give? (Mark Phillips)

Today's podcast features Louis Diez, the founder of the Donor Participation Project (DPP).

Louis set up the DPP with a single goal – to try to reverse the decline in the number of people giving to charity. Until recently, its members have predominantly been US fundraisers, but increasingly, more people from around the world are joining and the group is now 1,500 strong. I recently signed up, and if you listen to what Louis has to say, I think you will too.

Membership (which is free) offers access to monthly, 45-minute online discussion sessions where the group gets together to share ideas and thoughts about what's moving the needle of giving in the right direction. These are backed up with loads of great content shared on the DPP LinkedIn group. They have also just launched their first online conference. 

The conference is a series of two-hour sessions where one or two core speakers lead with their thoughts on a specific area of fundraising and a group of other practitioners then share a single piece of insight in two-minute lightning presentations. Everything is pulled together in the chat. This Friday's session (6th May 2022) is on scrappy innovation and next Friday they are looking at the future of major gift fundraising. If you are interested you can find out more and sign up here. There is a small payment for the conference but you'll also get access to videos of the previous sessions. The first was on how donor's preferred communications styles are changing and the second looked at how we can grow engagement amongst people from under represented groups (where you'll see me appear in a lightning session sharing an important finding from our new research into attitudes to giving amongst British Hindus).

The DPP is building a community of fundraisers who care about growing their understanding of what is working – and sharing what they learn. They know there is no simple answer and recognise that hearing many different voices increases the chances of producing incremental advances. But they also realise that these have to be delivered through a system that makes ideas and new approaches accessible. 

To that end, they work with three pillars – understanding the dynamics of content delivery, appreciating how a community functions and finally, how to best make that ask. It's all straightforward stuff, but what makes it so exciting is that the focus is on low-cost solutions - often driven by free tech. 

So take a listen and see what you think. You'll hear that Louis is a Higher Education fundraiser so we do spend some time talking about alumni giving before moving on to broader fundraising topics, but everything is relevant to all sectors. Sadly, sound quality isn't brilliant but the content is great. I hope I'll see you amongst the DPP-ers at the next meet up.

The two books mentioned are Get Together by Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh and Kai Elmer Sotto, and  The Socratic Fundraiser by Dr Russell James. 

Over the last month, I've shared a series of videos on LinkedIn looking at the reasons behind the fact that since 2005 we've seen individual giving income shrink – in real terms – by £5 billion. 

I'm joined today by fundraising consultant,  Giles Pegram where we dig into the reasons behind this decline and make a few suggestions about what we have to do as a sector if we want to turn things around. 

I've got something special for you today!

Over the past few years, I've recorded several Why Do People Give? podcasts with Giles Pegram CBE, which have always been well recieved. We've typically discussed specific issues affecting the sector, such as COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, providing insights and recommendations for fundraisers.

However, we both had thoughts about bringing other voices to your attention, both within and outside the sector. So, we've created a new video podcast on YouTube – but you can also listen to the audio here.

It's called Two Ps on a Pod, with the first episode launching today. In this episode, we discuss some of the statistics and findings from my recent LinkedIn videos and share our plans for the coming months.

You'll learn more about the £5.5 billion wealth transfer in the UK that will transform fundraising over the next decade, the importance of responding to donors' needs, reasons why donors lapse, how giving attitudes change with age, and the necessity of integrating appeals over time instead of having everything look the same.

But it’s the next episodes that are particularly exciting as we’ve got some great guests lined up:

A CEO of a major UK charity discussing their views on the fundraising function and its integration into the charity's strategy.

A senior regulator offering insights on the future of fundraising and potential considerations for the next government.

A branding specialist talking about what charities get right and wrong about branding, and sharing stories about famous UK TV ad campaigns.

Donors sharing their giving experiences, ranging from those giving hundreds to millions each year, providing fascinating perspectives on decision making.

That's just the beginning! In the following months, we plan to speak with people from Supporter Services departments, a patron on two, a head of a significant foundation, a psychologist, market researchers, academics, and a journalist. We'll also have a few fundraisers coming on to share some background into some significant fundraising campaigns. You'll find out what worked and what didn't.

There will also be plenty of episodes where Giles and I discuss current sector happenings and topics that should be of interest. Hopefully everything we share will help you become a more informed fundraiser.

We are planning to publish new episodes every two weeks moving forward so if you'd like to share thoughts and ideas for future shows, please let us know in the comments!

I’m pleased to be able to share Episode 2 of 'Two Ps on a Pod' with Giles Pegram CBE, where we had an incredible conversation with Sir Peter Wanless of NSPCC. We dug deep into the world of fundraising from the unique perspective of a CEO.

🎙️ This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking for insider tips on engaging your CEO with your fundraising mission. Did you know Sir Peter dedicates about 40% of his time to fundraising? He’s even sold some of his favorite shirts and abseiled down buildings for the cause!

Key topics include:

- Growth areas in Individual Giving (IG)
- Aligning fundraising strategy with overall charity strategy
- Avoiding the pitfalls of ‘shrinking to success’
- Advice for new fundraisers

Episode 3 is already recorded, where we’ll discuss how fundraisers learn and the dangers of misinformation in the sector. That will be released in about two weeks.

Until then, I hope you enjoy this hour with Sir Peter.

🔗 Watch the latest episode on Youtube. https://youtu.be/2ElHlVEabnM?si=Vzb1HfRlHfbPx8O_.

We’re publishing new episodes every two weeks. Share your thoughts and ideas for future shows here, on YouTube, or via email at hello@bluefroglondon.com or giles@gilespegram.com.

In our latest podcast, I’m back with Giles to look at how we – as a fundraisers – learn what we should be doing to engage donors and raise more money.

One of the problems that we face in the sector is the huge amount of information that’s available advising us on what we should be doing when developing our fundraising plans. Much of it is contradictory and a fair amount of it is downright dangerous!

This creates a huge dilemma when trying to work out what’s good advice and what’s bad. So In the podcast, we try and work out how we should tackle the thorny subject of learning, covering the following points:

The Balance Between Excitement and Effectiveness

Why do we strive to make fundraising exciting? We consider the balance of sticking to proven and effective methods compared to copying that new idea that’s getting loads of likes on social media.

The Role of Conferences and Content Curation

Fundraising conferences often grapple with choosing between showcasing best practice and presenting exciting new ideas (that sell most tickets). We explore this dilemma and emphasise the importance of learning from experience, insight, and wisdom rather than just chasing innovation for its own sake.

Learning from History

We look at how historical knowledge can inform modern fundraising strategies and consider the fact that by studying past successes and failures, fundraisers can avoid repeating mistakes and build on what has been proven to work.

The Challenge of Sharing Best Practices

We ask who should be responsible for defining and sharing best practice? We don’t think it should be the responsibility of individual fundraisers, but discuss the need for a more structured approach to disseminating knowledge led by sector bodies or perhaps even through collaborative efforts among larger charities.

Practical Takeaways

Finally, as ever, we also include some practical advice and suggest that sometimes the best way to innovate is to stop trying to do everything differently. Instead, focus on what has been shown to work and adapt it to current circumstances. Or as we say…

' Perhaps what we should start doing differently, is stop doing things differently.'

There’s plenty more shared in the podcast, with links to watch and listen below…

In today’s episode of Two Ps on a Pod, Giles and Mark meet up with Paul Amadi MBE, Chief Supporter Officer at the British Red Cross.

In a wide-ranging discussion, we consider the rights and (mainly) wrongs of transactional fundraising, we look at where the Red Cross is looking to innovate and what the future of successful fundraising might look like.

Paul shares his thoughts on how a charity can encourage people who give at times of emergency to continue their support when the news media moves on to other concerns. And we consider how the Red Cross brand is managed and whether it is important that the promotional focus of the charity should cover all aspects of the charity’s operations. 

If you'd like to speak to Giles, you can email him at giles@gilespegram.com. Mark can be found at hello@bluefroglondon.com. 

Agree? disagree? Why not make a comment and let us know. And if you've got an opinion you'd like to share, tell us why you'd like to join us on the sofas!

I'm back with another episode of Two Ps on a Pod with Giles Pegram CBE, and one of my favourite fundraisers, Ken Burnett. In today's episode you'll hear that we chat about the brand-new edition of Ken’s fantastic book on donor-centred fundraising, Relationship Fundraising.

You'll hear that we don't tell Ken how brilliant the book is (it is brilliant). Instead, we look critically at why Relationship Fundraising has failed! After all, there are very few significant charities that practice it today.

Despite evidence supporting Relationship Fundraising as the sole long-term strategy guaranteed to boost lifetime and legacy giving, its widespread adoption seems to have been hindered by the delayed realisation of its benefits.

This means that the new broom or innovation FOMO (fear of missing out) syndrome can easily destroy its impact, way before the rewards are felt.

But I can vouch for Relationship Fundraising. Over Bluefrog’s history, we have seen the benefits of implementing it for many of our long-term clients. Even at times of crisis (pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and economic downturns) we have been able to grow income for charities that follow its guidelines.

I have also seen what happens when innovations or rebrands are introduced without giving thought to donors' needs. That’s when we see income stagnate and go into decline – even in the face of increased spending.

The fact is it takes about two years for a “new creative or strategic direction” to have a significant negative impact on a previously well-run relationship fundraising programme. Donors are, after all, pretty forgiving. That’s enough time for the collective memory in the charity to grow dim and fuzzy, loosening the ties to the original strategy as decline is now accepted as the ‘new normal’. What usually follows is a series of lurches from one new creative solution to another as a charity tries to regain the growth that was once taken for granted.

If you’ve read the first or second edition of Relationship Fundraising, there is plenty of new insight in the new volume. Ken focuses on the donor experience and covers my favourite area of fundraising – thanking. He also takes a deeper strategic view, as you’ll hear in our conversation, where he considers the importance of developing a strong and supportive organisational culture.

You can buy a copy of Relationship Fundraising through Ken’s website – kenburnett.com or you can get a free copy by answering Giles' question, which you’ll find towards the end of the podcast which is, What is the most interesting thing you can do with Two Ps? 

Make of that what you will!

Answer in the comments on Youtube or email Giles at giles@gilespegram.com or me at hello@bluefroglondon.com. We’ll announce the winner at the end of September.

Happy listening!

Charity rebranding "is the easy way to fix the problem, rather than the real way to fix the problem…maybe the brand is its own worst enemy in that particular regard.” 

That's one of the points made by Michael Birkin, our Guest on Two Ps on a Pod this week

Michael is CEO of KYU, a global collective of creative companies that are focused on tackling some of the world’s most complex problems by harnessing innovation to drive societal and economic change.

But it’s very much his time as CEO at Interbrand and Vice-Chair of Omnicom Group that we are focussing on today. Google Michael, and you’ll find that he is one of the world’s global authorities on branding – he actually invented brand valuation. With his help and direction, we are looking at charity branding and rebranding, considering what branding can do for charities and what it can’t and when a rebrand should happen and when it shouldn’t.

We discuss what branding means, why rebranding as a quick fix to tackle deeper structural problems is a mistake, why the new broom rebrand by the new arrival rarely stands up to scrutiny and how there are other more effective ways to re-energise a struggling charity than embarking on a rebrand.

Michael's perspective is very different from those that we usually hear in the charity sector, and I think it is an essential one to consider in the face of the charity rebrands that can serve as a hinderance to growth rather than a driver.

As ever, if you disagree or have any thoughts to share, why not make a comment on LinkedIN or send them to Giles at Giles@gilespegram.com or me at hello@bluefroglondon.com. 

Happy fundraising.

🎙️ In Today's Episode: A Deep Dive into Regular Giving

Join us as we explore the fascinating subject of Regular Giving (RG) – from its origins in religious tithing to products like child sponsorship and RoomSponsor. Discover how RG has become a cornerstone for driving sustained, long-term impact.

We tackle pressing challenges, such as the overuse of low-value asks and the pitfalls of traditional "urgent" messaging, which can dilute donor engagement. Plus, we delve into the dynamics of donor behaviour, including how portfolios are capped and managed.

From recruitment strategies to donor stewardship, we discuss how to foster trust and a strong sense of belonging among supporters. Explore various recruitment channels, including TV, telephone, and digital, and learn why credibility and alignment in messaging are critical for success.

Finally, we highlight the importance of testing and adaptability in crafting campaigns that resonate.

🎁 Special Bonus: Share this podcast on LinkedIn, and you’ll get a chance to win a free copy of Lisa Sargent's brilliant new book, Thankology!

Don’t miss this insightful episode packed with strategies to elevate your Regular Giving campaigns.

#Fundraising #RegularGiving #DonorEngagement #NonprofitInnovation

If you’re looking for deeper insights into what’s working (and what’s not) in regular giving, Giles Pegram and I are back with Part Two of our deep dive into all things RG on this new episode of Two Ps on a Pod.

Here’s what we’re covering today:

Stewardship & Upgrades – How and when to upgrade regular givers, and by how much.
Mid-Value Giving & Membership Programmes – The pros, cons, and how to build RG portfolios effectively.
1% Attrition Challenge – Can we realistically achieve this? What about face-to-face recruitment?
Mystery Giving & Cancellation Processes – We’ve uncovered some surprising truths!

Just like in Part One, we’re also sharing tactical ideas to improve recruitment and retention strategies.

And don’t miss our giveaway!

We’re offering two incredible books:

Ken Burnett’s Relationship Fundraising  - the brand new updated third edition.
Lisa Sargent’s Thankology

To win, simply drop a question or debate topic in the comments below. Whether it’s on LinkedIn or YouTube, if we use your suggestion, one of these books will be winging its way to you as soon as next week.

Have you ever wondered what really makes people give to charity – and why they sometimes stop? Well, we’ve got the answers for you in today’s episode of Two Ps on a Pod!

Together with Giles Pegram CBE, I’m interviewing Bluefrog’s Head of Research, Amber Nathan who has spent much of the last twenty years interviewing thousands of donors worldwide. This conversation is packed full of insights that will transform your fundraising strategy.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The real emotional drivers that move the most valuable donors to give. 
• Why donors stop supporting charities – and what you can do to prevent it.
• The most common fundraising mistakes that could be costing you money.
• What donors really think of rebranding.
• Practical strategies to deepen donor relationships and grow a sustainable IG programme.

If you want to understand what’s driving giving, how you can strengthen donor connections, boost retention, and make every penny of your budget count, this podcast is for you!

Giles is one of the most successful fundraisers I know. He dramatically changed the fortunes of the NSPCC over the course of three decades, taking them from an income of under £5 million with reserves that would keep them going for just two months to an organisation with a huge national reach and an income of over 140 million a year.

You'll find out how he achieved this as he shares his thoughts on how to appoint and work with agencies, how to run successful capital campaigns, the importance of thanking, how he led his team, his thoughts about why innovation can be a problem and, importantly, his views on why people give.

This was another treat for me. Ken remains a huge influence on my thinking and this is the first time I’ve been able to dig into who and what influenced him.

We kick off with a history of ActionAid. Ken shows how an open mind and the implementation of best practice saw a small niche charity sky rocket in popularity. Pay particular attention to his comments on testing. Plenty to be learned here about innovation and how even the most unconventional recruitment practices can pay dividends.

It’s when we get to the question of why people give that things get really interesting. We discuss how artifice seems to have taken over from engagement for many organisations. We also cover leadership, the supporter experience and how the fundamentals of fundraising seem to have been forgotten – and how they are essential for our future success.

Ken takes us through some of his favourite appeals and explains why they worked and what made them successful and finally we move on to his thoughts for the future. We revisit best practice again before Ken makes a few trademark points about the need to switch from fundraising and focus on how we can be part of the change the world movement instead. All the resources can be downloaded on my blog, queerideas.co.uk

Lyndall is a remarkable fundraiser. Her experience includes setting up the UK fundraising operation for the African National Congress when Nelson Mandela was still in prison. She then went on to work for the Terrence Higgins Trust when HIV and AIDS were still beyond treatment before moving on to The Big Issue Foundation.

What makes this interview so special is that Lyndall repeatedly had to work without budget and with very little in the way of resources – no computers, no filing systems, no agency and no database. But what she achieved is amazing.

She shows how she identified her audience and used the fundamentals of direct marketing – through testing – to make her advertising as effective as possible whether it was ads on the front page of The Guardian or through developing mailing packs (with techniques that are still effective today). 

Lyndall speaks of the importance of learning from the experience of others and sharing knowledge. And to that end she gives us her advice on use of photographs and the need to make sure that our language is right for our supporters.

We discuss offering donors choice. Whilst working for the ANC, Lyndall included tick boxes on her response devices so donors could choose how a gift should be used – schools, hospitals, or 'wherever it was most needed’. As we see today when we use the same technique, many ticked the most needed box, but since the interview, I've learned that some donors added an extra box of their own ‘for AK47s’. 

We speak about hate mail and how the advice her father gave her - "chuck it straight in the bin" is as relevant for today's trolls – with their anonymous and abusive Twitter accounts – as it was then.

But what I found most valuable are Lyndall’s thoughts on what fundraising is good at and what it isn’t. It can raise money, but don’t think of it as a cheap route to boost PR or promote an ideology – even when you are part of a liberation movement.

And, of course, she shares her thoughts on why people give where we spend plenty of time talking about connection.

You can see some of the fundraising materials that Lyndall speaks about on my blog, queerideas.co.uk.

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in mid-level donors. It's actually a must-listen for everyone, but particularly for those with mid-level donors within their remit.

Angela Cluff started out her career at the British Heart Foundation before moving to the NSPCC where she was Head of Major Donor Development. She then became joint head of the Full Stop Campaign and Giles Pegram's deputy. As well as being the Vice-Chair of Oxfam GB, Angela now works as a consultant. 

There are so many highlights here that it's hard to single any out. It really is a masterclass in mid-level donor fundraising.

Angela uses the terminology they used at the NSPCC in the 1990s, so it might be useful to explain a couple of phrases here. Both groups fit broadly into today's mid-level zone.

• Major Donors were supporters that gave anywhere between £500 and £2,000. 
• Core Donors were those who gave over £2,000.

But as Angela explains, her approach wasn't based on just how much donors gave, but also focused on their level of commitment. 

This meant that they looked at donors as individuals and tried to develop approaches that worked for them as much as they worked for the NSPCC. As you'll hear, Angela often answers my questions with the phrase, "It depends" as she explains yet again how she worked with donors to help them discover what projects they wanted to support and their communication preferences. 

We talk about cash gifts, monthly giving, legacies and giving clubs along with how events should fit into any mid-level programme. 

And of course, we spend a great deal of time discussing why people give with reference to each individual donor's needs, history and life-experiences. 

We also talk about great ways to improve the supporter experience and hear Angela's views on the best way to work with consultants.

It's great stuff - I hope you enjoy it.

You can contact Angela here.

As a bonus, I've also included a message from Beth Crackles who has a fantastic series of podcasts called Cracking Charity Chat. It's always worth a listen.

This is unprecedented territory for fundraisers. Few of us will have experienced anything like this.

To help people gets their immediate response into place - before planning commences for the medium to long-term – I thought it would be useful to record a conversation with Giles Pegram. Giles featured in episode one of Why Do People Give? and with 30 years experience of fundraising as Appeals Director at the NSPCC, he is as good a resource as any.

Things are changing on a daily basis. What we need to do today will not be the same as yesterday and circumstances a month down the road may well require a radically different approach. But we are addressing the situation as of lunchtime on the 18th March.

As you'll hear, we recommend moving the fundraising focus away from 'activities' to concentrating on answering our donor's needs.

At Bluefrog we have already started research into donor attitudes to giving at this time. Luckily we had one of our private studies underway and have moved the focus onto the impact of Coronavirus as the situation has developed.

Early feedback is that people are obviously confused. We are all getting our heads around a new way of living. The interviews from yesterday evening seemed different from those that were undertaken at the beginning of the week.

But donors were firm about what they valued. They want their community to come together, they value mutual support and they are concerned about the vulnerable. This will drive giving.

In unsettling times, giving offers people a way of taking back control. It is empowering. We must never forget that.

In terms of practical advice, we discuss what to do if you have cancelled events, how you should approach putting together emergency appeals and how, at times of crisis, donors always tend to give more. We recognise that fundraising must be undertaken with the utmost respect and consideration, but this is not the time to stop inspiring donors or stop asking.

There is a real concern for those who do not have food, shelter, health and finances. And donors expect us to be there for the causes who need us.

The resources we discuss such as the free template appeal letters can be found on my blog, at queerideas.co.uk.

Conronavirus has reset the fundraising clock. It's almost like a year zero. We all need to start again, applying the basics in the most appropriate way for our cause. I hope this podcast helps you do just that.

Stay safe.

Today, I'm sharing the first feedback on a Bluefrog research study aimed at finding out what UK donors need from charities during the time of the Coronavirus crisis. It should be emphasised that these are still early days and we expect donor attitudes to further evolve over the coming weeks.

Back in February, we launched an independent study into attitudes to giving amongst donors to organisations working with people suffering from neurological disorders. In early March, as soon as we started to see the impact that the Coronavirus would have on us, we repurposed this study, widening the remit of the people we were speaking to and refocusing on the impact the virus would have on giving to charity. 

This has meant that we have been able to gain an understanding of how donors attitudes to giving has been influenced by Covid-19, the lockdown and the subsequent social fallout from job losses and social distancing policies as the impact of the virus has grown over time.

This is a qualitative study. That means that rather than asking a large number of people a series of relatively shallow questions about giving to charity, we have long, in-depth conversations with a much smaller number of charity donors where we can explore in detail how they are feeling at the moment and the role charities have in their life. 

Each interview has three main components:

1. What have been the main issues when thinking about the pandemic and how has thinking changed over the past few weeks? 
2. How has the pandemic influenced giving behaviour and how are they thinking about giving now, as compared to before the pandemic?
3. What role, if any, has the work of charities had in their lives since the arrival of the of the pandemic? 

All interviews were undertaken by Amber Nathan, who has run Bluefrog's research function for the last 16 years. During that time she has spoken to thousands of donors from throughout the world, so she's pretty experienced at this type of work. 

Next steps

The research will continue as we track how attitudes continue to change. If you are interested in finding out more or understanding how you might change your current fundraising strategy to engage and help your donors at this time, please drop me a line at things@bluefroglondon.com.

With legacy fundraising growing at a terrific rate, this was an important time to be able to chat with one of the world's most experienced legacy fundraisers, Richard Radcliffe.

Richard has been a fundraiser for over 40 years and for most of that time, his area of focus has been understanding why people leave gifts to charities in their wills.

With 32,000 conversations with potential legators over four decades, Richard has a great understanding of what motivates people and what they want to achieve when writing their Will.

In this conversation, Richard shares why people leave bequests and what changes he has noticed over the years, particularly as baby boomers have begun to seriously consider which charities they want to remember.

Unsurprisingly, we discuss legacy giving in the time of Coronavirus, examining what is different now and what we should be doing in preparation for the end of the lockdown. We discuss the massive increase in legacy giving that we are currently experiencing and talk about the different types of Will that people write during their lives.

You'll hear that we refer to the numbers released by FreeWills.co.uk over the last month that demonstrate an astounding level of generosity. Will writers were leaving an average of £60,000 to £70,000 a week to charity in their Wills in the early part of the year through the FreeWills website. Last week saw that figure reach almost £900,000. 

I'd recommend following @freewillscouk on Twitter for their updates. It's an astounding record of public generosity.

We discuss some recent legacy campaigns. For those of you who don't recognise the phrase My Brother Cyril, it's a line from a British Red Cross ad that doesn't seem to be available online anymore, but you can read more about it here.

We also take a look at innovation, particularly the use of digital channels and how we need to get messaging right for your audience, particularly when there is a large group of (predominantly younger people) who don't want to think about Will writing at all.

If you'd like to contact Richard you can find his website here. 

I mention that the latest round of Bluefrog research on the impact of Coronavirus on giving in general is due for publication this week. I have simply run out of time to get that written up. I'll publish early next week instead. Apologies. If you missed it, the first study is available here. Drop me a line if you'd like to discuss findings sooner than that.

You can also subscribe and listen on iTunes. If you enjoy the podcast, and had some time, a review would be really appreciated. Thank you.

It’s been a while, but I’ve moved away from video back to the podcast for another great chat with Giles Pegram.

Giles joined me to share his thoughts about what fundraisers should be doing to prepare for 2021. But most importantly, he spoke about a great new project that has produced some essential reading for us all – Fundraising in The Time of Covid-19, recently published by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Supporter Experience special interest group. 

Giles and I met about ten days ago, but because of pressure of work, I’ve only just been able to sit down and get our chat edited. In the discussion, you’ll hear Giles talk about a very exciting webinar that the team behind the guide are presenting on the 25th of November at 2pm (GMT).

So check your watch and calendar. If you still have time, you can sign up here. It’s free. If you’ve missed it, I’ll add a link to a recording as soon as one is available. 

In the guide, you’ll be introduced to six key principles necessary to deliver a great supporter experience:

• It’s about the donor not you.
• How to develop the right organisational mindset.
• Why your supporters still believe in your mission. And why they want to give.
• Why you shouldn’t assume that you are providing a great supporter experience.
• Why charities should invest in fundraisers.
• Why charities should invest in fundraising.

What makes this guide so important – and useful – is that it goes far beyond just telling you to be nice to donors. It actually shows you how to do it. And how to do it well. It’s packed full of examples of how charities have developed and implemented these ideas for you to learn from. You can also use them to persuade a nervous senior management team (SMT) of the sense in investing in this approach.

In the conversation you’ll hear us talk more about the guide, about the importance of continuing to fundraise during the current time and how our approach needs to change in response to the needs of supporters – as they evolve under the influence of the ever changing pandemic. We also discuss some of Bluefrog’s latest research findings.

Apologies that the quality of the recording isn’t brilliant. It’s fine, but you’ll hear a few of those Zoom glitches that are a trademark of our daily working lives.