8 Steps to Writing Successful Fundraising Appeals | npENGAGE

8 Steps to Writing Successful Fundraising Appeals | npENGAGE: No matter how digitally savvy you are, if you want to be successful in fundraising you need to come to grips with the fact that fundraising letters work.

At this point in the year, you should already have all your direct mail appeals at the mail house. (You do, don’t you?) Here are some tips to help you get ready for next year’s fundraising letters. It’s not too early to begin designing the package!

Why Long Fundraising Letters Outpull Shorter Ones

Why Long Fundraising Letters Outpull Shorter Ones: Excerpted from The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: Real-World, Field-Tested Strategies to Raise More Money

Aunt Ruth was smiling. Aglow with happiness. I couldn't figure it out.

My 79-year-old aunt had just brought in the day's mail. There was a lot of it, including several fundraising appeals. She threw one away unopened. The others she set on the small table next to her comfy chair. Smiling. The whole time.

College's attempt at fundraising gives alumni the blahs - USATODAY.com

College's attempt at fundraising gives alumni the blahs - USATODAY.com: "RAMINGHAM, Mass. (AP) — An attempt to reach younger donors with a breezily written letter that uses the word 'blah' 137 times has some Framingham State College alumni questioning the school's professionalism, judgment and ... blah, blah, blah."