# 12 days of tenuous fundraising blogs - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/12/20/12-days-of-tenuous-fundraising-blogs/ - Published: 2018-12-20T19:16:09+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake **On many occasions I’ve been wowed by the brilliance of the tenuous fundraising blog; the blog that aims to mine nuggets of fundraising ore from the darkest and weirdest of places, the more tenuous the better.** It is not meant to be critical of the bloggers – quite the opposite – it’s a celebration of the creativity and frankly tongue in cheek cheekiness of fundraisers across the globe. OK, some are terrible, so they come with a warning! Here are my favourite 12 tenuous fundraising blogs to count down to Christmas. Enjoy. ## Advertisement   ## 12. 󠀁[What Fundraisers Can Learn from Dogs](https://www.truesense.com/blog/what-fundraisers-can-learn-from-dogs)󠁿 ![Dog - photo: Pixabay](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2018/12/dog-pixabay. jpg) A stab at linking dogs to human donors; dogs respond empathetically to distress, as do humans, so upset donors to get them to give? Yep, kinda. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 1/5 **Tenuous rating:** 4/5   ## 11. 󠀁[What fundraisers can learn from Walt Disney](https://www.pursuant.com/relationship-fundraising/what-fundraisers-can-learn-from-walt-disney-about-creating-authentic-experiences/)󠁿 ![Mickey and Minnie Mouse - photo: Pixabay](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/ 2018/12/mickey-and-minnie-mouse-pixabay.jpg) A seemingly contradictory effort that suggests creating a magic Disney experience for donors on the one hand and having a warts and all non-Disney experience on the other. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 3/5   ## 10. 󠀁[10 things fundraisers could learn from Star Wars](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/11/09/10-things-fundraisers-could-learn-from-star-wars)󠁿 ![Star Wars stormtroopers - photo: Howard Lake](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/ 2015/11/star-wars-stormtroopers.jpg) As a massive Star Wars fan this had to feature. It’s funny, quite helpful and of course has cool pictures from the films. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 4/5 **Tenuous rating:** 5/5   ## 9. 󠀁[5 things fundraisers can learn from Jeremy Corbyn](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/06/15/5-lessons-for-fundraisers-from-jeremy-corbyn)󠁿 ![Jeremy Corbyn MP - photo: uklabour on Instagram.com](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads. cloud/2017/06/jeremy-corbyn-uklabout-instagram.jpg) Earnest and unashamedly biased. One for the Corbynistas! **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 2/5   ## 8. 󠀁[8 tips fundraisers can learn from street beggars](https://clairification.com/2012/12/09/8-tips-fundraisers-can-learn-from-street-beggars)󠁿 ![Open cupped hands - photo: Pixabay](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2018/ 12/open-hands-asking-pixabay.jpg) Distasteful title, which gives you a flavour of the nonsense to come. Not the best of the internet. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 4/5 ## 7. 󠀁[7 Things the Cleveland Browns taught me about fundraising](https://www.evertrue.com/blog/2015/11/24/7-things-the-cleveland-browns-taught-me-about-fundraising)󠁿 ![Cleveland Browns stadium - photo: Pixabay](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/ 2018/12/cleveland-browns-stadium.jpg) Niche, but quite a relevant, thoughtful piece. Even understood some of the US game lingo. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 4/5   ## 6. 󠀁[6 Fundraising Lessons from Lord of the Rings](https://www.qgiv.com/blog/6-fundraising-lessons-from-lord-of-the-rings)󠁿 ![The one true ring - Lord of the Rings. Image: Pixabay](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads. cloud/2018/12/lord-of-the-rings-pixabay.jpg) Someone had to. A bit cheesy, which is unsurprising as it is written by a super- fan, but I really like the gifs. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 5+/5 ## 5. 󠀁[5 Takeways fundraisers can learn from professional quarterback negotiations](https://bloomerang.co/blog/5-takeaways-fundraisers-can-learn-from-professional-quarterback-negotiations/)󠁿 ⌊Quarterback in action on the field - Pixabay⌉  Fundraising will never work like this. If it did we would be forcing donors into such corners that they would never give to anyone ever again. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 5/5   ## 4. 󠀁[How your restaurant waiter can teach you about fundraising](https://imarketsmart.com/how-your-restaurant-waiter-can-teach-you-about-fundraising/)󠁿 ![Bar manager with menu](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2018/12/bar-manager- pixabay.jpg) A waiter who looks after you well gets a better tip; look after your donor and they will donate. That’s it, don’t bother reading it. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 1/5 **Tenuous rating:** 4/5   ## 3. 󠀁[3 Things fundraisers can learn from McDonald’s](http://www.achieveagency.com/3-things-fundraisers-can-learn-from-mcdonalds)󠁿 ![Portion of fries - photo: Pixabay](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2018/12/ mcdonalds-fries.jpg) Actually a serious blog advocating a consistency of approach with donors. Not sure the golden arches approach work for everyone, however. Worthy. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 4/5   ## 2. 󠀁[What fundraisers can learn from the New Coke disaster](https://www.futurefundraisingnow.com/future-fundraising/2018/09/what-fundraisers-can-learn-from-the-new-coke-disaster.html)󠁿 ![Coca Cola cafe chairs](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2018/12/coca-cola- cafe-chairs-pixabay.jpg) Don’t understand a word of it. Top marks for tenuous. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 1/5 **Tenuous rating:** 5/5   ## 1. 󠀁[6 lessons fundraisers can learn from Elle Woods](https://www.donorperfect.com/nonprofit-technology-blog/fundraising-software/6-lessons-fundraisers-can-learn-elle-woods)󠁿 ![Have faith in yourself](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2018/12/elle-woods- faith-in-yourself.gif) Taking you back to that non-Oscar winning film, _Legally Blonde_. Awash with motivational gifs, this one is more about you than your fundraising. Have faith in yourself. A classic. **Fundraising usefulness rating:** 2/5 **Tenuous rating:** 4/5   _[**Mike Bartlett**](http://twitter.com/Mike__Bartlett) is a Senior Consultant at [Money Tree Fundraising](http://www.moneytreefundraising.co.uk), specialists in high level giving. He is an experienced fundraising professional, having led teams at large international aid agencies and smaller UK-focussed charities. He has a passion for high level giving, especially developing major donor programmes for smaller charities. Mike has been an Institute of Fundraising mentor for five years and is a regular speaker at regional and national fundraising conferences. In 2018 Mike chaired the Institute of Fundraising Major Donor Conference._ * **[Seminars in podcasting and blogging appear for charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/10/seminars-podcasting-and-blogging-appear-charities/)**( 10 May 2006) * **[New blog 'The Funderer' debuts on UK Fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/10/16/new-blog-039the-funderer039-debuts-uk-fundraising/)**( 16 October 2006) * **[Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants coming here next week!](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/11/19/carnival-nonprofit-consultants-coming-here-next-week/)**( 19 November 2007) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)