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Fundraising: using Eglantyne Jebb’s story
‘We have to devise a means of making known the facts in such a way as to touch the imagination of the world,’ Eglantyne Jebb said in the early days of Save the Children. The best and perhaps most obvious way, is to let potential supporters know exactly where their money goes – to which specific projects, giving real children’s stories and explaining the broader outcomes. But as a supplementary thought, when I worked in Corporate Fundraising, I always found that Eglantyne Jebb’s own story always captured people’s imagination. I am still asked to give talks to support key fundraising events. My advice here is to focus on the story from when she is campaigning in Trafalgar Square, through her arrest and court case, to the prosecution’s donation becoming one of the first donations to the Fund. Most people know the Save the Children name and logo, but it is perhaps an old, large, faceless giant. Eglantyne Jebb’s story is surprising and inspiring – one of courage, defiance and drama that really speaks to people today. Telling a story (briefly and well) is a great way to start a conversation if you need a new way in, and this one can sometimes stop people in their tracks and make them think again. (I tell Eglantyne Jebb’s story in my book ‘The Woman Who Saved the Children.’ It’s not expensive, the author royalties are donated to Save, and you don’t need to read the whole thing!)