Effective Fundraising Appeals: Live Critiques

Many charity appeals fall short of their potential_failing to capture a donorÕs emotions and generosity_but often fundraisers donÕt know exactly what went wrong. How effective are your fundraising appeals?

Join The Chronicle of Philanthropy to learn what works best in direct-mail and e-mail appeals. WeÕve enlisted a successful veteran fundraiser to offer live critiques of appeals that webinar participants submit ahead of time. His insights will help you learn how to make your own appeals more compelling and produce better results.

Charlie Melichar, a former college communications executive who now advises nonprofits at Marts & Lundy, will kick off the session with an overview of the latest fundraising approaches that are working well, and which trendy tactics to avoid. He also will offer guidance on how to avoid falling prey to popular myths. Then heÕll walk through what works and doesnÕt on the appeals webinar participants have submitted.

Participants are welcome to submit all forms of fundraising appeals from online or crowdfunding campaigns, to video appeals, to email and direct mail.

What Will You Learn?
How to use storytelling to engage your supporters.
How to demonstrate compelling results to strengthen donorsÕ ties to your cause.
How to coordinate online and direct-mail campaigns to drive up donations.

Who Should Attend?
Chief development officers, development directors, and other fundraisers
Communications directors and online marketers
Executive directors