IS FUNDRAISING F***KED? PLUS LESS PROFANE REFLECTIONS ON LANGUAGE, TOILETS & GDPR

Here's our final edition of 'Unconventional Wisdom' for 2017 - featuring some unique insights and innovative ideas recently published by people from across the charity sector...

Joe Saxton: Is fundraising f***ked?
Published on nfpSynergy
Joe Saxton is a real authority on fundraising - his 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' introductory guide is still the first resource we point charities towards. So when he chooses such an eye-catching headline, it's for good reason. Ahead of nfpSynergy's forthcoming report into the political, economic, social and technological factors affecting fundraising, this article provides a quick summary of the situation. It's worrying to hear but important to know - and fortunately, there's a chirpier follow-up piece coming soon on the positive developments and opportunities for charities!

Does it cost £60 to build a toilet?
Published on Toilet Twinning
Great fundraising campaigns can be a brilliant antidote to the concerns currently surrounding fundraising. This Toilet Twinning campaign by Tearfund has drawn plenty of well-deserved praise from fundraisers - here's a charity translating a complex issue into a simple and compelling ask, not hiding away from the true costs of its work, and making donors feel excited about the impact of a relatively modest contribution. Well worth checking out for some inspiration!

Jo Fischl & Tim Harrison: GDPR: The change that charity donors want
Published on nfpSynergy
We know what you're thinking: another report about Data Protection... But this excellent free download looks at GDPR from a different and important angle - what's the current public mood towards charities and data protection? And how are donors likely to respond to the coming changes? While the conclusions are worrying - donors often feel bombarded, and welcome GDPR as a way of taking control - nfpSynergy also provide plenty of constructive advice on how charities can adapt.

Rosie Ifould: 'Would you be willing?': words to turn a conversation around (and those to avoid)
Published on The Guardian
Research shows that we're all far more influenced by the language people use than we'd like to admit. Professors at Loughborough University have analysed thousands of hours of recorded conversations - from customer services calls to police crisis negotiation - to identify certain words and phrases with the power to change the course of a conversation both positively and negatively. While this isn't specific to the sector, it provides plenty of food for thought for charities and fundraisers. So...would you be willing to have a quick read to find out more?

​Claire Axelrad: Key Issues in Effective Nonprofit Board Decision-Making
Published on Clairification
"Many nonprofits are stuck. They’re tethered to their early decisions. Often made by others who came before them." It's a bold opening to an article all about the factors that hold trustee boards back from making complex decisions such as investing in fundraising. These include confirmation bias, emotional attachment and fear of failure - do you recognise any of these? Could this article help your trustees to become more aware of some of the common challenges?