Dear Copywriter (or Aspiring Copywriter):
Does writing for nonprofits sound like - well, sound like there wouldn't be much profit in it for you?
That's a common assumption ... and it's totally wrong.
My colleague, JH, told me he earned $400,000 last year writing fundraising letters for nonprofit clients - and he writes only a few hours a day.
Yes, there is little or no money in writing fundraising letters for small local nonprofits, which have limited budgets and plenty of volunteers willing to do anything for free.
But the big national nonprofits - everything from Covenant House to the North Shore Animal League - have staffs of well-paid marketing managers who pay their freelance copywriters handsomely to craft sales letters that support their causes, promote their message, and bring in a flood of donations.
How handsomely?
Well, I have to admit that at first glance, it seems like nonprofit copywriting doesn't pay quite as well as for-profit copywriting.
On average, the fees paid by major clients to fundraising copywriters are about HALF the fees major clients in the for-profit sector pay.
But that's actually pretty good, and let me tell you why....
First, commercial copywriters command fees of $6,000 ... $8,000 ... even $10,000 or more to write a DM package selling a product.
So at half those rates, fundraising copywriters are still getting paid pretty well -- $3,000 to $5,000 or more - for fundraising mailings.
Write a package a week and you can easily earn $150,000 or more writing copy for nonprofit clients.
Second, the average fundraising package is much shorter and simpler than the average commercial DM package.
Take a look at the fundraising mailings you get: most are a one or two-page typed letter, a reply form, and an envelope for mailing back your donation.
Compare that with an 8-page letter selling a complex software package ... or a 16-page magalog selling a nutritional supplement ... or a 40-page digest selling a financial newsletter.
Fundraising packages are usually less than half the length and complexity of DM promotions that sell products or services.
Consequently, they often take HALF the time to write - or even less -- and therefore, on a per-hour basis, can be equal to or actually more profitable than commercial assignments.
This high per-hour compensation in the nonprofit sector is a fact very few fundraising copywriters talk about -- perhaps because they don't want the rest of us to catch onto this secret and move in on their gravy train.
Add fundraising letters to your repertoire NOW

In our e-book How to Make Money as a Freelance Fundraising Copywriter, Mary Guinane McNamara and I spill the beans about the highly profitable non-profit sector ...
... and show how you can write great fundraising copy - and get highly lucrative freelance copywriting assignments - from nonprofit clients.
Including:

  • Why fundraising copywriting is one of the most rewarding niches in the business - both financially and otherwise. Page 3.
  • 6 shortcuts to help you quickly build your fundraising copywriting skills and knowledge. Page 28.
  • The 14 key motivators that get people to donate to worthy causes and how to use each in your copy. Starts on page 64.
  • Convenient, easy-to-use formula instantly reveals whether your copy is centered on the donor -- or just a boring "puff piece" for your client. Page 18.
  • 5 ways to market yourself to potential nonprofit clients as a fundraising copywriter. Page 29
  • 3 types of copywriting nonprofits use to find new donors and keep cash flowing from existing supporters. Page 6.
  • 5 things that make fundraising more challenging than for-profit copywriting. Page 71.
  • 10 tips for writing more powerful fundraising copy that pulls in donations in record amounts. Page 74.
  • Fundraising copywriting is a seasonal business. Here's how to plan your calendar for both the busy season and the slow season. Page 30.
  • The 7 deadly sins of letter writing - and how to avoid each in your fundraising copy. Page 17.
  • Where to find potential nonprofit clients who hire freelance fundraising copywriters. Page 31.
  • Can you charge your client a bonus based on how much money your letter raises for them? The answer may surprise you. Page 7.
  • How to parlay your personal history and life experiences into a closer working relationship with your first fundraising client. Page 32.
  • Using the "4 P's" formula to make a compelling case for giving to your client's charity. Page 19.
  • How to make sure the fee you quote for writing a fundraising letter is within that particular organization's budget or price range. Page 34.
  • Choosing your fundraising clients - pros and cons of working directly with nonprofits vs. through fundraising ad agencies. Page 9.
  • 4 tips for raising money and votes for political candidates. Page 77.
  • Easiest places to break into fundraising copywriting - and get your first nonprofit experience - when you are new to the field. Page 35.
  • The biggest mistake copywriters make in fundraising letters and how to avoid it. Page 20.
  • Getting copywriting assignments from ad agencies that handle nonprofit clients. Page 36.
  • How to earn $500 per page or more writing copy for nonprofit organizations. Page 10.
  • Writing copy to generate donations on the Internet. Page 37.
  • What makes fundraising direct mail different from commercial sales letters? The answer may surprise you. Page 21.



Sales Page: http://www.thefundraisingwriter.com/



Hidden Block (you must be registered and have 1 posts):
You do not have sufficient rights to see the hidden data contained here.