Fundraisers love rules. Throughout most of our careers, we are told to analyse the statistics, follow the evidence and learn the right techniques. But to be a great fundraiser, following the rules is not enough. There is some great fundraising literature out there, and most effective fundraisers will have learnt a range of principles and … Continued

At ChangeStar, we create Fundraising DM: Direct Marketing appeals for charities. In this blog, we look at how good design techniques can transform the success of your fundraising DM appeal. We look inside the mind of a warm supporter, and acknowledge the initial negative thoughts that may pop up when they first glance at a … Continued

‘Fundraiser’s Friend’ is your source of ideas, news and comment by ChangeStar, shared with a community of hundreds of fundraisers and social changemakers. Sign up here if you’re not already receiving your free quarterly Fundraiser’s Friend by email, and join in! AUGUST 2019 ISSUE GOOD WORK! Review of an Oxfam supporter care letter One of … Continued

Kath Blaize-Smith is an Account Director at ChangeStar fundraising agency. She has an interesting insight into the work of fundraising agencies, as she was on the ‘client-side’ as Senior Marketing Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support and now works ‘agency-side’ for us! In this Q and A, she shares her insight: I have 10 years’ experience … Continued

Individual Giving is a person giving a charity a gift of money. The gift to charity could be one or more of the following: A cash donation* A regular Direct Debit donation A gift in their Will – also called Legacy Giving Purchase of raffle or lottery tickets A donation through payroll Sometimes, the money … Continued

Most fundraisers know that telling stories is fundamental to the success of their charity fundraising campaigns. Good case studies for fundraising are really stories. But how can you get hold of these stories? I’m Director of the fundraising agency ChangeStar. In my experience on both client and agency side, one of the great challenges for … Continued

The launch of ChangeStar Express At ChangeStar, we speak to lots of charities that are just starting to build individual giving programmes or whose current programmes are too small to make it viable to use an external agency or consultant. We know that our input could make a massive difference to these charities, so we’ve been … Continued

We agency Account Directors are a useful bunch, on the whole. We have enviable skills that extend beyond the wearing of a sharp suit. My Account Director role is for ChangeStar, the fundraising and social change agency, but this blog applies to AD’s in many other kinds of creative agencies too. Charities can benefit enormously … Continued

For many charities, the Christmas mailing to supporters is the most successful, and therefore the most important, fundraising appeal of the year. As a result, there can be a sense of pressure on fundraisers to ensure that the Christmas appeal is a real success. This article examines an award-winning Christmas appeal by ChangeStar in detail … Continued