In a previous blog I introduced some exciting new ideas on how to grow philanthropy in the United Kingdom, from the Beacon Collaborative.

In this blog I outline some of my own for how giving might be doubled.

Every other person seems to be asking me whether I thought AI was going to replace me as a fundraising copywriter. But although AI might be able to do the mechanics of my work, I seriously questioned whether it could build authentic relationships. I added AI to the list of things to ask Prof. Jen Shang about.  

Philanthropic psychology starts with the heart. It starts from assuming your donors are caring and loving people. Stronger relationships and connections lead to better wellbeing for your donors – and their gifts flow from that.  This ‘heart-first’ approach is a perspective shift.

Advocates of donor-centred fundraising and the community-centric fundraising movement have butted heads over the last few years. But what if we could invite donors to be part of something where the essence of who they are allows them to forge deeper connections than “donor as hero”?

Donor-centred fundraising was becoming a dirty concept. Pressure to move the fundraising story away from the donor was mounting. This made it very hard for fundraising copywriting practitioners like me. I even wondered whether I should bow out of fundraising copywriting altogether. But then I learned more about Philanthropic Psychology.

In the heart of historic Prague, the European Fundraising Association's (EFA) Skillshare 2023 unfolded, promising knowledge, innovation, and inspiration under the theme "ELEVATE & INNOVATE: EMPOWERING FUNDRAISING IN EUROPE." This event highlighted the vital role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the nonprofit sector and its future prospects. As a participant, I can affirm that it was an exceptional experience!

“Negatives raise more money than positives”, right? Maybe. But is it even the right debate to be having? We believe not. The discussion should be around how we can fundraise in a way which is meaningful to the donor and delivers them the opportunity to enhance their wellbeing. In this blog, Prof. Jen Shang explains more, with an example from USA for UNHCR.

I don’t see donor centricity as the dominant paradigm in fundraising. For that to be true, the majority of organizations in our sector would need to be able to identify donors needs and follow through on their satisfaction, and they do not. The metrics we use to assess our practice are almost exclusively financial and we care little for our supporters and how we make them feel. True donor centricity would require organizations to look to the wellbeing and growth of their supporters. And as a sector, we’re not there yet.

What does love have to do with fundraising? What happens when you combine identity, wellbeing and love? What is philanthropic psychology? To find the answers to all your questions, read on.

Do you really know who your supporters are? The more you understand about your donors’ identities, the more you can speak to them in ways that resonate. To kickstart 2021, we’re challenging everyone to really get to know who the people that support you are. Want to know how to go about it? Read on.

Why do we still use military metaphors in fundraising, and descriptions of donors that we wouldn’t use externally? Is it time to shake up our vocabulary and celebrate the best of everyone?

Words create meaning and value, and we never stop learning about how to hit home with the words we write. Is your fundraising copy working hard enough?

Is Relationship Fundraising today the same as it was in the 1990s? What do we have to learn, and where should we go from here? Find out more about Relationship Fundraising 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0.

One in five fundraisers feel undervalued and believe they are not considered professionals.

Our research found fundraisers being recognised as professionals leads to greater philanthropic orientation, which in turn leads to greater fundraising performance.