That’s dead good copy that like!
When it comes to writing for fundraising, one of the biggest pitfalls is slipping into that ‘charity voice’. You know the one. Comfortably formal, safely predictable, a few too many acronyms and likely to get approved with the least amount of drama.
It does the job, while also not really doing the job. And if we’re being honest, we’ve all been guilty of it from time to time when there’s a deadline looming.
Well, not ‘Fat Mark’ from Teesside Dementia Link Services. He sent Boro legend Steph McGovern a request for support; one BBC version and one Boro version:
The Boro version made me HOWL with laughter. It’s proper Relationship Fundraising. It’s just Fat Mark asking Steph from down the road to lend him some milk because his Mam had to put her last fiver on the leccy.
And Mark knew that the best way to get Steph’s attention wasn’t to treat her like a celebrity who needs her ego stroking. She’s a Boro lass, so he rinsed her for “sometimes talking posh since she moved to that London” (something I get accused of every time I visit home).
With deadlines looming and another round of approvals waiting, it’s easy to slip into that charity voice. But whenever we get the chance, I reckon we could all do with channelling our inner Fat Mark.
And if you need someone to write a lovingly offensive email to a northern celebrity, that’s like right up our street, love. We’ll ’elp ya. Dead easy.
Anyway, tarar for now, pet. I’ve gotta go babysit our Karen’s little ’un.
Fat Alfie x
Bio
Dog lover, copywriter, Yorkshire pudding; Alfie Waldron is a Senior Creative at DTV, working across the majority of our clients on everything from DRTV to integrated campaigns.