Archives
May 2008
View Web page here
1. What's Working: A really effective one-two punch
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
2. Easy?
By Rick Christ
3. Self-audit your donor communications
By Tom Ahern
4. Where's Mal
5. Perception!
6. Best Practices: Destination marketing
By Tom Gaffny
7. Ask Mal
8. HandsOn: Make your Web site a big hit
By Lance Trebesch and Taylor Robinson
9. Web 2.0
By Mandy O'Neill
10. Copy Corner: Supporting the tangible
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
11. Altruism!
April 2008
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1. Answerman: Retention rates—and what to do about them
By Peter Schoewe
2. Suffering?
3. Data: Calculating individual donor value
By John Sauvé-Rodd
4. Cloudy
5. Best Practices: Best practices online
By Tom Gaffny
6. Ask Mal
7. HandsOn: Search engine optimization (Part 2)
By Lance Trebesch and Taylor Robinson
8. Optimistic
9. Spotlight on Success: Cooperation is the answer (Part 2)
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
10. Ellipses...
March 2008
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1. Best Practices: Best practices online
By Tom Gaffny
2. Put video to good use
By Rick Christ
3. Spotlight on Success: Cooperation is the answer (Part 1)
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
4. Idea!
5. Merge-purge 101
By Suzie McGuire
6. Ask Mal
7. HandsOn: Make your Web site a big hit
By Lance Trebesch and Taylor Robinson
8. Cost?
9. What's Working: In praise of fiscal responsibility
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
10. Certainty?
February 2008
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1. Extra!: Fundraising in tough times
By Mal Warwick and Dan Doyle
2. Ask the Guru!
3. Answerman: Acquisition best practices
By Peter Schoewe
4. Testing!
5. Copy Corner: Finding the right letter signer
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
6. Ask Mal
7. Crisis communications
By Jerr Boschee
8. Involvement
9. What's Working: When plain is beautiful
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
10. Happiness?
January 2008
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1. Spotlight on Success...Hospitals in the mail (Part 2)
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
2. Specificity!
3. Lists...New Year's list resolutions
By Suzie McGuire
4. What's Working...Holiday giving at its best
5. Ask Mal
6. Extra!...10 ways to energize your thank-you letters
By Sandy Rees
7. Size matters!
8. Hands On...Have you tried an online auction?
By Lance Trebesch and Taylor Robinson
9. CSR
10. Online...The rising impact of online communications
By Sue Woodward
11. Value!
By Mal Warwick
December 2007
View webpage here.
1. Hands On...Seven fundraising myths
By Bob Knight
2. Hands On...Seven fundraising "myths?" Not so fast!
By Mal Warwick, Editor
3. Where's Mal?
4. Spotlight...Hospitals in the mail
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
5. Blogs!
6. Answerman...Five tips for using personalization
By Peter Schoewe
7. Good/Bad!
By Jeff Brooks
8. Online...Measuring e-mail performance
By Rick Christ
9. Ask Mal...Fake surveys
10. Copy Corner...Bill's message
By Managing Editor Deborah Block and Paul Karps
11. Tips!
By Ivan Levison
12. Stats
November 2007
View webpage here.
1. When to follow up with a phone call
By Steve Hitchcock
2. Where's Mal?
3. The art of asking
By Terry Murray
4. Why?
5. How much?
By Mal Warwick, Editor
6. Competition
7. 12 reasons lists suddenly stop producing
By Carol Enters
8. Join me at the Canadian Fundraising Congress
9. Video!
10. Challenging the myths about monthly giving
By Harvey McKinnon
11. Gross!
12. Handwriting adds a personal touch
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
13. Celebrities!
October 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this Issue:
1. Spotlight on Success...Kiss Your Competitors
By Bob Knight
2. Ex-Patients
3. On Lists...Innovating with lists
By Suzie McGuire
4. Where's Mal?
5. Testing...How well does testing work?
By Mal Warwick
6. Echo!
7. Tips & Timesavers
8. Hands On...Understanding online software
By Michael Stein
9. Charity?
10. Extra..."Charity badges"
By Lance Trebesch and Taylor Robinson
September 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this Issue:
1. Spotlight on Success...Breaking down distance
2. Where’s Mal?
3. Answerman...How to create an appeal (Part 2)
By Peter Schoewe
4. Up?
5. Hands On...Donor-centered fundraising
By Mal Warwick, Editor
6. Two Approaches to Direct Mail Fundraising
7. Online...Nine tips for effective e-mails
By Nick Allen
8. Indifference
9. What's Working...This insert fits perfectly
10. Generosity?
11. Tips & Timesavers
12. Copy Corner...When one signer isn’t enough
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
August 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this Issue:
1. Spotlight On Success...Beware of address labels!
By Jeff Brooks
2. Hands On...Learning from the big guys
By Benjamin Borne
3. Extra!...You need a lift!
By Ivan Levison
4. Special Report...Direct Mail Lists on a Shoestring
By Ellis M.M. Robinson
5. Where’s Mal?
6. Online!
7. Politicians
8. Teasers?
9. Grumbling
July 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this Issue:
1. Spotlinght On Success...25 ways to stay 15 minutes ahead
By Ken Burnett
2. Answerman...How to create an appeal (Part 1)
By Peter Schoewe
3. Hands On...Getting the family on board
By Lola Mauer
4. Data...Profit
By John Sauvé-Rodd
5. What's Working...The old one-two punch
6. Copy Corner...The Darfur puppy
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
7. Tips!
By L. M.
8. Appreciation!
By Jerry Panas
June 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this Issue:
1. And the Winner is...Dialogue!
By Mal Warwick, Editor
2. On Lists...Screening list usage requests
By Suzie McGuire
3. Extra!...Brevity!
By Mal Warwick
4. Hands On...The direct mail - major gift parallel
By Maria Jordan
5. Extra!...Overload!
By Mal Warwick
6. Extra!...Hope!
By Mal Warwick
7. Extra!...Affection!
By Mal Warwick
8. Savvy?
9. Tips & Timesavers
May 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this issue:
1. Spotlight on Success...The blogosphere is here for you
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
2. Answerman...Easy mistakes that are hard to avoid
By Peter Schoewe
3. Extra!...Who are you calling a "social enterprise?!"
By Mal Warwick
4. What's Working...Maybe may be the right answer!
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
5. Copy Corner...Creating a real conversation
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
6. Tidbits
April 2007
Download the PDF or view webpage here.
In this issue:
1. And the winner is...Welcome!
By Mal Warwick
2. Answerman...Growing by leaps and bounds
By Peter Schoewe
3. Extra!...First understand your donors
By Kathleen Brennan
4. Hands On...Fundraising ratios and other deceptions
By Mal Warwick
5. Perspectives...Navigating fundraising channels
By Erin Ehsani
6. Tidbits
March 2007
Download the PDF or view webage here.
In this issue:
1. Spotlight...Online insight
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
2. Extra!...Learning from politics
by Tom Belford
3. Hands on...Do e-mail silences matter?
By Karen Matheson and Eve Fox
4. On lists...Choosing a list manager
By Suzie McGuire
5. Copy Corner...Hidden real estate
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
6. What's Working...International Rescue Committee
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
7. Tidbits
February 2007
Download the PDF or view webage here.
In this issue:
1. And the winner is...Stuff!
by Mal Warwick
2. Answerman...Say 100,000 thank-yous and mean it
by Peter Schoewe
3. Extra!...Writing e-mail appeals
by Mal Warwick
4. Online...Renewing donors online
by Rachel Allison
5. What's Working...No matter the outcome
by Deborah Block and Paul Karps
6. Hands On...The right way to end a letter
by Ivan Levison
7. Tips & Timesavers
January 2007
Download the PDF or view webage here.
In this issue:
1. Spotlight on Success...Starting a lifelong conversation
by Paul Barry
2. Hands On...Action!
by Mal Warwick
3. Online...Seven New Year's resolutions
by Rachel Allison
4. On Lists...Comparing lists by Long-Term Value
by Suzie McGuire
5. What's Working...A picture says it all
by Deborah Block and Paul Karps
6. Extra...Six gifts
by Mal Warwick
7. Copy Corner...Keeping it fresh
by Deborah Block and Paul Karps
8. Tips & Tidbits
December 2006
Download the PDF
In this issue:
1. Extra! Testing matching gifts
By Dean Karlan
2. DonorSpeak Pros and cons of Internet surveys
By Dirk Rinker
3. What's Working Reiterating the message
By Deborah Block & Paul Karps
4. Special Report What to do about premiums? A Case Study
By Peter Schoewe
5. Where's Mal?
6. Tips & Tidbits
November 2006
Download the entire newsletter
In this issue:
1. Bonding with disaster donors
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
2. Answerman: Two tips for using premiums
By Peter Schoewe
3. Online: Breaking news online
By Rachel Allison
4. On Lists: Your core mail universe (Part II)
By Suzie McGuire
5. Telephone Line: Does sex matter in fundraising?
By Tracy Lea
6. Copy Corner: When the money doesn't come in
By Deborah Block and Paul Karps
October 2006
Download the entire newsletter
In This Issue:
1. Spotlight on success: Nothing to say? Tell Stories!
by Tom Ahern
2. DonorSpeak: Mapping out research objectives
by Dirk Rinker
3. On Lists: Your core mail universe
by Suzie McGuire
4. Extra!: REALLY handwritten?!
by Megan Clark
5. Hands On: Why open rates are dropping
by Karen Matheson & Eve Fox
6. What's Working: In her own words
by Deborah Block & Paul Karps
September 2006
Download the entire newsletter
In This Issue:
1. Spotlight on success: Online resources...for free!
by Deborah Block and Paul Karps
2. Answerman: Small tests, big results
by Peter Schoewe
3. Online: Beyond e-mail: landing pages
by Rachel Allison
4. Extra!: Integrated fundraising gets real
by Sheeraz Haji
5. Hands On: Writing powerful e-mail subject lines
by Raj Khera
6. Copy Corner: Is your year-end appeal appealing?
by Deborah Block and Paul Karps
7. Canadian Fundraising Congress
8. Tips & Timesavers
August 2006
Download the entire newsletter
1. And the winner is... A true winner!
By Mal Warwick
2. EXTRA!: Positioning: creating a memorable image
By Jerr Boschee
3. On Lists: Choosing the right lists
By Suzie McGuire
4. Special Report: Do Images Help or Hurt?
By Eve Fox and Katelyn Sabochik
July 2006
Download the entire newsletter
1. Spotlight on Success: Know thyself... and thy donor
2. Answerman: Should recent donors be mailed?
by Peter Schoewe
3. Donorspeak: Is Lifetime Donor Value still relevant?
by Dirk Rinker
4. Online: 10 steps to a great email,
by Rachel Allison
5. Tips & Timesavers
6. Hands On: Create your own online benchmarks,
by Karen Matheson
7. What's Working: Nothing phony about this one!
8. Copy Corner: Looking for ideas?
by Deborah Block & Paul Karps
June 2006
Download the entire newsletter
And the Winner Is: Premium Treatment, by Mal Warwick
Extra!: This is about "you," by Ivan Levison
On Lists: Choosing a list broker, by Suzie McGuire
Special Report: Getting Personal... Creatively, by Deborah Block & Paul Karps
Using what you have
May 2006
Download the PDF
Pre-emptive renewals by Dana Hines
Do Personal Notes Make a Difference? by Marc Sloop
Tracking the waves and the currents by Dirk Rinker
Online fundraising benchmarks! by Madeline Stanionis
Tips and Timesavers
Writing a Creative Brief by Tom Ahern
Marketing the Concept
Institutional approach with a twist by Deborah Block and Paul Karps
March 2006
The Best of Both Worlds
Too Many Legacy Donors? by Gwen Chapman
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
December 2005 The long and short of it
An ideal insert
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
October 2005
Grow your e-mail database! by Brent Blackaby
The impact of design on copy, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
September 2005
The back-end of monthly giving Part II
Integrating online with direct mail and telemarketing (Part III), by Madeline Stanionis
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
August 2005
The back-end of monthly giving
How to design your bequest mailing, by Gwen Chapman
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
July 2005
Integrating online with direct mail and telemarketing (Part 2), by Madeline Stanionis
Just keep it simple, by Rene Bekkers & Olaf Crutzen
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
June 2005
Continuing the message
Soliciting gifts by credit card, by Susie Fought
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
May 2005
Integrated fundraising (Part 1), by Madeline Stanionis
The latest in thank-yous
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
April 2005
Names! by Mal Warwick
Keep those intangibles coming, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
March 2005
Tips on reactivation, by Susie Fought
Web audits: The best first step for a Web site redesign, by Dottie Hodges
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
February 2005
Bonding
Acknowledging a donor, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
January 2005
A beary special package
Designing for success, by Susie Fought
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
December 2004
How we've grown our monthly giving program, by Alice Benson
The online donor of your dreams, by Madeline Stanionis
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
November 2004
A Special Report: Why Do U.S. Donors Leave Bequests? (Part 2) Adrian Sargeant & Elaine Jay
Go with the flow Block & Karps
What's up online Dan Weeks
October 2004
A Special Report: Why Do U.S. Donors Leave Bequests? (Part 1) Adrian Sargeant & Elaine Jay
Eliminate the clutter Susie Fought
What's up online Dan Weeks
September 2004
Conducting the right online research Dirk Rinker
Give yourself a lift Block & Karps
What's up online Dan Weeks
August 2004
Five ways to promote bequest gifts Gwen Chapman
Subject lines that sink or swim Madeline Stanionis
What's up online Dan Weeks
July 2004
Is Direct Mail Fundraising Worth the Trouble? Mal Warwick
Why people ignore your newsletter Tom Ahern
What's up online Dan Weeks
June 2004
How much to upgrade Susie Fought
FREE ... for only $15 The Phantom Donor
What's up online Dan Weeks
May 2004
Six things about direct mail that nobody talks about Mal Warwick
Eight tests worth trying online Madeline Stanionis
What's up online Dan Weeks
April 2004
The power of the testimonial Block & Karps
Turning over the reins
What's up online Dan Weeks
March 2004
Saying thank you, by Susie Fought
Testing e-mail without testing your sanity, by Rachel Allison
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
February 2004
When glitz can yield a winner, by Block & Karps
Personalizing the gift string, by Susie Fought
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
January 2004
Thanks for all the stuff! by The Phantom Donor
E-mail vs. direct mail? by Ivan Levison
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
December 2003
Mastering the new media mix, by Mal Warwick
The power of oratory, by Block & Karps
On the road again with Mal, by Camille Hoelting
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
November 2003
Fundraising's Holy Grail, by Mal Warwick
When standing out may not stand up, by Susie Fought
Five (new) ways to integrate your online and offline fundraising, by Madeline Stanionis
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
October 2003
What to Expect from a Telephone Appeal, by Mal Warwick
Putting the FUN in online fundraising, by Madeline Stanionis
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
September 2003
Direct mail fundraising in the 13th Century? by Mal Warwick
Acquisition: It's not about you! by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
August 2003
Do renewals make good fundraising sense? by Susie Fought
More on editing, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
July 2003
When only an online appeal will do, by Madeline Stanionis
Six new challenges in direct mail fundraising, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
June 2003
Donor software study reveals most satisfied users, by Bruce Campbell
How to write more effective Asks, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
May 2003
A year's worth of mail: a case study
Breaking the ice, by Madeline Stanionis
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
April 2003
Special Report: Poll of Direct Mail Donors Yields Surprises, by Mal Warwick
Making a petition credible, by Mal Warwick
Urgency vs. desperation, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
March 2003
"Recycled goat enclosed," by Mal Warwick
Do teasers work? by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
February 2003
Cultivating compassion . . .and generosity, by Mal Warwick
A direct mail fundraiser looks at legacy giving, by Steve Thomas
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
January 2003
New ways to raise money online, by Nick Allen
Relationship fundraising:the key to your future, by Ken Burnett
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
December 2002
Case Study: Making a go of online fundraising, by Madeline Stanionis
Getting the most from testing, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
November 2002
Donor renewal trends, by Bruce Campbell
Putting the heat on a warm prospect, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
October 2002
13 tips for raising money online, by Nick Allen
All right, already! by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
September 2002
The fight against telefundraising restrictions, by Lee Cassidy
Recruiting Younger Donors, by Mary Beth McIntyre
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
August 2002
Readers offer planned giving strategies, by Susie Fought
Gaining a competitive advantage, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
July 2002
Developing an online fundraising campaign, by Nick Allen
Why do you need integrated fundraising? by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
June 2002
Asking for bequest information, by Block & Karps
Revitalizing acquisition, by Susie Fought
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
May 2002
Asking once a year, by Gwen Chapman
The answer to answering machines, by Andy Laudano
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
April 2002
Anatomy of an e-Newsletter, by Madeline Stanionis
Making the most of an insert, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
March 2002
Changing strategies for changing times
The lowdown on legacies, by Rich Fox
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
February 2002
Combining mail and phones, by Joe White
Doing more with the reply device, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
January 2002
Get those e-mail addresses! by Nick Allen
What Americans think of direct mail, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
December 2001
Creating your e-mail newsletter, by Nick Allen
Exactly right, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
November 2001
But what about the economy? by Susie Fought
The truth about television fundraising, by McKinnon and French
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
October 2001
The impact of September 11
How to keep 'em moving, by Block & Karps
Cultivation, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
September 2001
A message from Mal Warwick
How to motivate the younger generation, by Bruce Campbell
Building your e-mail list, by Nick Allen
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
August 2001
Patience wins! by Bill Rehm
Living by the golden rule, by Block & Karps
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
July 2001
Moving direct mail donors online, by Madeline Stanionis
By the numbers, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
June 2001
Minimizing bias, by Bruce Campbell
Information! by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
May 2001
Secrets of sustaining, by Susie Fought
Telefundraising today, by Joe White
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
April 2001
How to maintain monthly momentum, by Steve Hitchcock
New findings on charitable bequests, by Robert F. Sharpe
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
March 2001
Choosing an e-vendor, by Nick Allen
What makes a fundraising letter effective? by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
February 2001
Thinking inside the box, by Block & Karps
Benchmarkingtrends in nonprofit giving, by Sarah Durst
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
January 2001
Donor value modeling, by Bruce Campbell
Innovation! by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
December 2000
When is the best time to mail? by Steve Hitchcock
Asking prospects for the right-sized gift, by Con Squires
Kids, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
November 2000
It's easier to give than to receive, by Nick Allen
What fundraisers can learn from brand image advertising, by John Groman
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
October 2000
How to say thank you, by Steve Hitchcock
Asking prospects for the right-sized gift, by Con Squires
Interview with, by Mal Warwick
What's up online, by Susie Fought
September 2000
The voice of experience
Responding to donor behavior, by Robert A. Harris
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
August 2000
The inbound call center, today & tomorrow, by McCarthy & Jenkins
Tips from the ultimate pros
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
July 2000
Three things you can do to increase planned giving, by Tim Sharpe
Growing your donorbase with "mixed media," by Randy Brewer
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
Kudos to National Council of La Raza, by Mwosi Swenson
May 2000
Seven ways to use e-mail, by Nick Allen
Membership has its advantages, by Steve Hitchcock
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
March 2000
How to plan for a postage increase, by Steve Hitchcock
How well informed are your donors? by Bruce Campbell
What's up online, by Dan Weeks
January 2000
What fundamentals will endure? by Steve Hitchcock
Who are your donors? by Bruce Campbell
Setting the tone: Arts and culture, by Block & Karps
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