I've been inspired by these excellent videos, and I think you might be too. Give yourself a little time and enjoy them!
1. Paul Zak on the future of storytelling
A look into the brain science of charitable giving. Here are the two ingredients every story needs in order to move people to give.
6 minutes.
2. Dan Pallotta on how the way we think about charity is wrong
Pallotta shows how our industry's focus on overhead dooms many nonprofits to ineffectiveness. Don't get caught in the nonprofit starvation cycle that comes from spending too little on fundraising!
19 minutes.
3. Scene from the movie "Walk the Line"
Johnny Cash auditions for legendary producer Sam Phillips and learns something important about what it takes to really reach people. Fundraising is about saying something that really needs to be said.
5 minutes.
4. Simon Sinek on how great leaders inspire action
It's not what you do or how you do it -- it's why you do it that gets people excited. So much fundraising is focused on what they want donors to buy into. You can do much better by making your message why donors will want to join you in your cause.
18 minutes.
5. Scene from the movie "Monty Python's Life of Brian"
Group writing. At its best. Don't let this happen to you. Strong, clear, direct writing is the heart of great fundraising. There is no group or committee on this planet that can produce that!
90 seconds.
6. David Ogilvy on direct response
Advertising legend tells direct response professionals how superior our craft is to general advertising. Don't let the glamor of general/brand advertising distract you from the powerful truth that direct response fundraising is the best tool for nonprofits -- now and in the future!
7 minutes.
7. Scene from "Mad Men"
Don Draper pitches the Carousel slide projector and shows the difference between features and benefits. The guys from Kodak thought it was all about the cool new "wheel" technology. Draper showed them: It's about the heart. That's how you do fundraising!
3-1/2 minutes.
