The Little Words Mean the Most

A donation speaks its truth

Julia is a teacher. Now she has a gun ... to defend, if she can, Ukraine. She's weeping and going to war. [NY Times; 2/26/22]

 

 

 

Not every day is a sandbox full of jelly beans

 

... on learning that Zoom does not allow you to change font size on a registration page ...

 

 

Because these distinctions keep turning up as useful: mission V. vision V. case statement ~ The subtleties

 

 

MISSION statement answers: “What we do ... and why.”

VISION statement answers: “How things can be better.”

CASE statement answers: “Why would I, the targeted donor prospect, maybe care enough to say YES?”

 

 

Preview

a bit more human after loss

 

I have ears

left ear no longer quite as acute as my right

as in: Last night it took four tries to hear

"How's your meal?"

 

Intriguing, excellent, surprising, innovative

well-plated, with attentive staff who

mustered care and enthusiasm around 4 diners, 3 with canes,

together moving slowly as the Fall of the Roman Empire

> could lecture on that very topic

in classic Latin

aging brains and muscles

 

now so much

really

I don't care much WHAT I hear

except what I invite in

Eminem LOSE YOURSELF is one; just

about right; on repeat

 

Enjoying a good wind this spring this midnight

 

Twist open the windows!

trees knocking about

their drumbeat settling, Gene Krupa takes over

dead branches declaring left and right

lichens flying, frog peepers coming soon to choral us

 

getting sorted for another year

bring it on

 

 

What can a print donor newsletter really earn in 2022?

 

Multiple choice exam:

 

Should your .org start a print donor newsletter in 2022?

 

[  ] waste of time; digital rules

[  ] marginal; sometimes it works because U.S. donors are so old (avg. age 64) and they bump into things

[  ] it's the shiny new thing you've ignored for 3 decades

 

Surprise answer: Number 3. IRL evidence....

The Case Writers have built 2 print donor newsletters from the ground up since 2019.

The end-game in both cases was this: talented, specially-trained staff in-house would take over full control within 4 quarterly issues (with an ongoing assist from an outside designer/newsletter specialist).

The smaller .org of the 2 now raises something like $70,000 in gifts per quarterly issue ... in 2022. They mail to around 20,000 true believers.

The massive .org of the 2 now raises close to a half-million in gifts per quarterly issue ... in 2022. Average gift size is up. Re-ups by "lapsed" donors are also up.

Neither of these results are surprises. They were planned events. That's what research and a proven formula can do for your mission ... if you dare.

 

 

Could "donor relevant" replace "donor centric"?

Haiku in apology

 

Pants make keen downspouts

if you and Toto don't meet

peed my socks tonight

 

 

Very much like the message on her mask

 

Right-wing numb nuts call anti-Covid masks "face diapers."

I call them "personal billboards."

Here's one I can really relate to, worn by a 30-year member (survivor?) of the RI legislature, Anastasia Williams, at a Black Lives Matter rally:

 

What Daryl Upsall just said about Sim One Joyaux

 

Love this discussion...there are no contradictions in fighting the good fight and enjoying life to the full.

"If I can't dance I don't want to be in your revolution," said Emma Goldman (1869-1940) ... and when I worked in revolutions in Latin America and raised a lot of money for the cause [I used] concerts, clubs and comedy events. Inspired by Emma Goldman my line was "If you don't dance, you are not part of my revolution! Viva la revolution! Viva!"

Long live the revolutionary spirit of Sim One!!

------

Daryl's comments follow a long, loving, Feb 1, 2022 entry by super-star fundraiser, Shoni Field; an entry now residing on Sim One's tribute website.

The ultra-rigid need not apply