Creative

In September 2009, columnist Jocelyn Harmon got To the Point with her column, titled "Don't Write Crappy Content." Doesn't get much more to the point than that!

Let's say you are going to invest some time — and perhaps money — into creating content for your website. In most cases, this will take the form of a blog. But it's one thing to create content, and another to get it out there so others can read it. What are some things you can do to make your content more shareable? What can you do to get people to read it and pass it on to others? Take a look at this list.

I just saw the worst nonprofit newsletter headline ever written: "Partnering with the Southern Philippines." Unfortunately, this headline isn't the lone occupant of the "worst ever written" slot. It's tied for worst with about a zillion other nonprofit newsletter headlines. Here's what's wrong with the headline — and with the many others just like it …

A well-oiled content calendar will do wonders for your nonprofit’s communication plan. Like most things, it’s about setting a proper foundation. Here’s how to set up an engaging content calendar for your nonprofit.

In the September/October 2004 issue, fundraising pros Bryan Terpstra and Maura Szendey teamed up to write "Don't Be Afraid of the A-Word," a feature that put fundraisers' minds at ease by explaining that, unlike the tax variety, creative and file audits can be stress-free and a good way to up your bottom line.

You don't have to have a story to tell a story. You just have to find another one. One that's already there.

In the March/April 2004 issue, back when FS was only published six times a year, our Just Slightly Contrarian columnist, renowned copywriter Jerry Huntsinger, explained how a well-crafted lift note can "put a little pop in your package."

In her October 2008 story, FundRaising Success DM Diagnosis writer Kimberly Seville highlighted several opening paragraphs from a number of fundraising appeals, including this introduction from the American Bible Society.

While none of these ideas in and of themselves will radically alter your fundraising program or results, sometimes the simplest tweaks or slight changes in focus can impact bottom line —assuming you think of them!

Here’s the thing folks … You should write your appeals at about a 4th- to 6th-grade level. Simple sentences. Simple sentence structure. Simple words. Add a story. Add a call to action. And add some urgency … and you have a solid letter.

Why? Simply stated … it’s a matter of courtesy. Supporters of your mission can get sophistication from a bottle of wine or a good book. But when it comes to your letters, they just want to know what the problem is and how they can help.