Survey Shows Direct Mail Still Generates the Most Donations
Article A recent study reports that donors who give to international groups prefer these charities to contact them via email over mailed letters. Direct mail, however, still generates the most donations.

How to Write Fundraising Materials That Make More Money
Product This book gives tips on how to write fundraising materials that inspire giving among first-time donors and keep existing donors loyal.

Direct Mail, Phonathons and Class Agents for the 21st Century
Product This webinar looks at how some top independent schools are enhancing their annual fund programs by increasing participation, productivity and dollars raised with their direct-mail plans, class agent programs and phonathons. The session is designed for annual fund directors and their teams at institutions of any size and type. This webinar discusses the strategic questions that need to be asked in order to develop and advance philanthropic relationships. This multimedia file is a recording of a webinar originally presented Oct. 20, 2011.

Persuasive Development Writing -- Spring Session
Conference Designed for professionals who write for development, this conference gives you hands-on training to improve your fundraising results. You will have the opportunity to choose from one of four tracks: Annual Giving, Corporate and Foundation, General Development Writing and Major Gifts.

Smooth Mailing
CURRENTS Article Direct mail isn't dead yet, but institutions can't do business as usual. This article explores how some institutions are learning how to integrate e-mail, Facebook, and other Web tools into their annual fund appeals.

Advance Work: Blah-Blah Blues
CURRENTS Article The blah-blah letter has been a tried and true fundraising appeal for young alumni. But a recent backlash might be the signal of its demise.

Advance Work: Taboo Test
CURRENTS Article One U.K. charity's research showed that mentioning the down economy in direct mail pieces lead to smaller gifts from top donors.

How to Raise Planned Gifts by Mail
Product This book dicusses how effective direct mail can fan the flame of donor interest in making a planned gift. The author discusses how to increase the return on direct mail efforts by focusing on the quality of the mail list, the content of the appeal and the design or format of the piece--in that order.

How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters
Product Revised and updated edition offers explicit instructions for producing powerful fundraising letters. This book will be helpful for those who write fundraising letters for colleges, universities and other nonprofits; for the leadership of nonprofits; and for anyone who wants to be a more effective writer.

Fundraising Publications Packages: National Cathedral School - Bronze Medal
Best Practice The "It All Adds Up" package marketed the National Cathedral School's 2006 $1.4 million annual fund campaign.

Raising $1000 Gifts by Mail
Product This book discusses strategies and tactics for successul direct-mail marketing efforts. The author also presents a four-step process for placing donors at the center of nonprofit fundraising ventures. Inlcudes samples, illustrations and checklists.

Write-Minded: Proceed with Caution
CURRENTS Article The author offers advice on approaching faculty most effectively via a solicitation letter.

Is Direct Mail Dead?
CURRENTS Article The authors present direct mail samples from various higher education institutions to demonstrate that the art of direct mail solicitation has not gone by the wayside. Samples from Northern Arizona University, Georgetown University, Kansas University, and Grinnell College comprise a few of the 10 institutions included.

Put Your Direct Mail to the Test
CURRENTS Article The author examines issues surrounding direct mail analysis and testing of direct mail returns. Five factors of direct mail response, including copy, timing, package, the offer, and the list are presented. Each of these factors effect the outcome and level of success for individual direct mail campaigns. Next, the author presents a recipe for how to perform a successful test of direct mail response. The steps are as follows: 1) form a hypothesis; 2) test only one variable at a time; 3) choose the test and control groups; 4) decide on a sample size; 5) document the test; 6) send the actual mailing, wait for the response, and compare the results; and 7) repeat the process again. A sidebar article looks at the top 10 direct mail myths. Myths include: a two-percent response rate is good, the best time to mail is the end of the year, and postcards draw better than letters.

How to Write for Development
Product This book covers the basics of writing for fundraising: how to create effective proposals, annual reports, case statement, brochures, annual giving materials, solicitation letters and deferred giving messages.