If you've got a doggone bone to pick with the year-end crunch, we've got your back. Try this checklist to scratch that I-need-some-clarity itch. This is the 113th issue of the Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell your fundraising friends. (Your fundraising friends can ​subscribe here for free.)​

In this issue:

• Here's a year-end appeal writing and editing checklist for you!
• Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you
• Win It in a Minute

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

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Hi Reader,

Last night, Brett and I were watching an old 60 Minutes episode about child prodigies (we've linked one of the segments below). It was astounding.

One thing stood out to me: All prodigies have near-perfect recall — their memory is a superpower.

For example, a boy named Jake was a prodigy so remarkably adept at math and science that at age 12 he was already attending university and predicting he will one day make important breakthroughs in physics.

Jake aced every memory test given to him, including one where he memorized 28 states given to him in random order. He could repeat them backwards and forwards, both immediately after the test and months later.

What's my point?

I forget.

Just kidding. My point is that we mere mortals with average, porous memories, need mundane strategies.

E.g., checklists.

Checklists are underrated. They don't get enough love. They're just sort of put in a corner and taken for granted.

I say, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!"

I hope you feel the same because . . .

Here's a year-end appeal writing & editing checklist for you!

Actually, what you see below are just screenshots.

​Click on them or click here to access the document, which includes a labeled appeal letter we wrote for a client based in New Zealand.

We sure hope this helps! (Maybe print it for reference?)

Randomly yours: to inspire and recharge you

For your brain, heart, and funny bone...

• Fundraisingly Informative — Eight Nonprofit Enewsletters You Should Subscribe To by Ephraim Gopin (a blog post that generously mentions our newsletter along with 7 others you may want to consider reading on the regular)
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• Effectively Framed — An ER doctor on triaging your "crazy busy" life by Darria Long (an unforgettable 12-minute TED Talk about how to shift your perspective on what it means to be busy — and boost your sense of wellbeing)​
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• Altruistically Complicated — MrBeast builds 100 wells in Africa, attracting praise – and some criticism by Issy Ronald and Stephanie Busari, CNN (a thought-provoking news article about issues surrounding recent philanthropic efforts by YouTube's #1 individual creator)
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• Profoundly Mysterious — Alma Deutscher, British music prodigy via 60 Minutes Archives (a 13-minute 60 Minutes segment featuring a 12-year-old British girl who began composing at age 3 and is now being compared to Mozart)
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• Posthumously Vital — Now And Then (Official Music Video)​ by The Beatles (a 5-minute video of the Fab Four's new song which was pieced together from an old John Lennon demo that the surviving Beatles attempted to bring to life in the '90s but could not make work until the tech improved enough)

Until next time: May you keep your lovable checklists out of all corners and front and center where they belong!

Grateful,

PS: We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with family next week, so we'll be back in 2 weeks. Meantime, here's the latest in our weekly video series, Win It in a Minute. You can (and maybe want to?) subscribe here.

In this video, Michelle asks: “What's the difference between an offer, an ask, and an indirect ask?"

Tom Ahern and Jeff Brooks answer...

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