Common Knowledge
Fall Webinar Series

Integrating Online and Direct Mail {with CDR}

Thu, 10/30 11:30 am PDT

With guest Geoff Peters, President of the CDR Fundraising Group

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Direct mail remains the golden child of fundraising, but how does the Internet fit in? Join Jeff Patrick and and special guest Geoff Peters, President of the CDR Fundraising Group, as we discuss integrated direct marketing and fundraising--and how direct mail, email, and web campaigns can work together to maximize your revenue. We'll share case studies and best practices.


Rapid Donor Cultivation

Wed 11/5 11:30 am PST

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The third edition of our popular session will cover all the basics of RDC. How are you caring for your new opt-ins are in the crucial period of those first 30 days. How do you engage people when they first join your nonprofit’s email list? In this presentation we will explain how to:
• ensure a strategic stream of email communications,
• engage new supporters frequent, targeted, high quality messages, and
• rapidly cultivate new prospects.
After an overview of the RDC program, we’ll use a Q&A format to explore the practical aspects of RDC for you, the nonprofit.

Have you already attended one of our RDC webinars? Let a colleague know about the webinar, and invite them to join the conversation!


Conference Recaps

CONFERENCES: NetSquared 2008 Recap

At the third annual Web 2.0-tools-for-social-change Net Squared conference in San Jose, Senior Consultants Joel Bush and Rachel Weidinger were challenged with how we can take the mashup concept even further, providing insights into pressure points for change. Congrats to the Mashup Challenge winners! We especially enjoyed Scott Moore’s talk on Metrics for Online Social Networks


CONFERENCES: Online Community Unconference Recap

The Online Community Unconference in Mountain View, CA gave Senior Consultants Joel Bush and Rachel Weidinger the opportunity to talk more with online community managers at You Tube, Linked In, KaBOOM!, and more. We hosted a conversation on how to build online communities for nonprofits and were reminded of some interesting points:

  • Understand the goal of your community first. Program delivery is different from marketing.
  • Your welcome message for new community members is key--think it through.
  • Super users should be identified and can help welcome new users and uphold community standards.

Featured White Paper


Case Studies


Project: 2007 Stop the Seal Hunt Campaign

Client: IFAW

For this case study we focus on the Spring 2007 Seal Hunt Campaign which demonstrates our strong work with campaign site design, advocacy, fundraising, and list-building working with IFAW. This campaign, running from January to May 2007, targeted the Canadian Seal Hunt with an international advocacy appeal to stop the slaughter of Harp seals for their coats. Read the full case study here.


Projects: Web Site Design/Development, Fundraising, Advocacy, List Building, Social Networking

Client: Sierra Club

We are engaged at every level with Sierra Club to expand their online giving program – membership, issue appeals, and emergency relief; increase and leverage their massive e-activist community, and design/develop a comprehensive social networking strategy, community and three websites. Read the full overview here.


Project: Rapid Donor Cultivation

Client: IFAW

Common Knowledge introduces a new concept in online fundraising – targeted, automated cultivation of new e-subscribers over the first 45 days from opt-in.  The program results in 15% increase in average gift size, and an 83% increase in donor conversion. Read the full case study here.


Conferences: Let’s Meet Up!

Planning on going? Let us know. We’d love to meet up with you.

Nonprofit Management Institute 2008, Palo Alto, CA September 23-24

Stanford Social Innovation Review and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) host this institute where Jeff will join presenters including the world's leading experts, professors from the Stanford Graduate School of Business