If you're wondering where we've gone...

...we're now over here on our lovely new website.

Not that we've worked out how to blog there yet.

But have a look around, find out what we actually do, and someone will be along to blog shortly. (Picture shamelessly stolen from Gaping Void. Sorry.)

Richard

United for Unicef

Time to Share

Fingers Crossed...

Aw Shucks...

Little Room

I'm at home trying to write our website.

I have 120 words to tell the 'Open Story'.

I'm very tempted to just embed this instead.

James

What have we been up to?

Unfortunately, you may have noticed, we've been a little absent from the blog recently. We're not being intentionally neglectful, we've just fallen into the busy summer months!

This means we're after more freelance creatives to get us through to the new year. If you are one or know of one, drop us an email. We want some very clever and very confident designers to get up and running immediately. And we're always on the lookout for experienced charity copywriters! More about working at Open, here.

Meanwhile, here's a little update of what we've been up to though...

- A very exciting re-brand and identity project for the British Heart Foundation, working with the wonderful illustrator Laura Barrett.

- New supporter magazines for Action for Children and the British Heart Foundation. You is glue.

- Hiring account managers to replace the recently departed Rebecca and Caty.

- Lots of work with existing clients on our Connected mobile regular-giving product, as well as lots of selling to some exciting new clients (more on that to come, I'm sure...)

- Preparing for a mammoth amount of Christmas appeals and associated work.

We're also very close to having to a new website, but more on that soon...

Richard

Charity Peter

What the chuff is Vic doing with our Charity Peter?

Matt

God Love the Irish

One week. One letter. One million Euros and counting...

Concern worldwide is way ahead of target and we couldn't be happier. The economy may be failing, but the generosity of the Irish people seems to be alive and well.

James

Sack Your Creative Agency

The secret is out. We generate all our ideas on Wheel of Concept and then just stick them into PowerPoint.

Really, anyone can do this stuff. In fact, if you also bookmark this site you could sell a load of modish social media snake-oil too!

See you at the dole office.

James

It must be fun working for Greenpeace...

Barbie, you're dumped. What a fun headline to write.

And it must be great not to worry about sticking to the rules. In fact, I imagine you'd be encouraged to break them. We could never run a campaign with Ken as the poster boy without all sorts of permissions. Oh, to be reckless!

It'd be interesting to know if this stuff works though. No (real) people with eye-contact (or animals). No body copy. No call to action. The campaign certainly has stand-out. My friends certainly talked about it. We certainly found out what it was all about. We liked it. I'm just not sure anyone actually did anything though.

Although I hope they did. It'd be depressing if no-one ever got to be reckless or silly or controversial again! (Although no call to action for a campaigning organisation is surely an arrestable offence?!)

Richard

If the world were a village of 100 people

I probably missed these the first time round, but here's some very cute and interesting infographics/posters from Toby NG. They'd look nice in the studio (although I'm not convinced they're all technically correct!).

Richard

Are you local? (Part 1)

Finally, after nearly three months, I’ve heard back from all the charities I chose to benefit from Open’s Grand Giveaway in April. But why has it taken them so long to say thank you?

Well, they’re all small, local charities, you see, requiring real people (not an agency) to send me written appreciations of my gifts.

So here’s what my lovely neighbours sent me to say thank you…

The Simon Community

I know what you’re thinking. But this isn’t an online appreciation society for Simon Cowell. Neither is it a charity that supports those unfortunate enough to be addicted to electronic games of memory skill.

In fact, The Simon Community is a small charity that works with homeless people in my community. Their soup run stops at the end of my road, and every Saturday I skulk past on the way to spending three figures on Terramazon Cacao Nibs, flax oil and spelt burgers in the Camden Fresh and Wild (their organic shea butter seems to be the only thing capable of salving my weekend Pashley rash.)

Anyway, The Simon Community sent me a nice thank you letter, top-and-tailed by their Chief Exec, telling me a little bit more about what they do. Underwhelmed? Moi?

Not a bit. It was a lovely letter. And they are to me like honey to the bee.

Next time, Camden Young Carers…

Matt

Time for...

Last week saw the first inaugural Show & Tell sesh here at Open – a chance for us creatives to get together, drink coffee and chat about the good, bad or ugly work we've come across outside of these four walls.

And my favourite exhibit this week? This heart-wrenching cinema ad from Médecins Sans Frontières – which proves you don't always need cute kids and eye contact to really pack a punch.

Hannah

One Amazing Person Down, Just A Few More Amazing People to Go...

It's a bit of a business-manual truism that you should hire people who are better than you. But it's not always easy. First of all it's a bit scary. And secondly, these people are hard to find.

I realise that this sounds conceited. But what I actually mean is that really good people tend to have really good jobs already – or indeed work for themselves.

Anyway, you're doubtless thinking that this is all leading up to a big 'we've appointed' announcement. And you'd be right.

We've been lucky enough to persuade Paul de Gregorio come and head up all our Mobile stuff. He'll be working with charities (CRUK being the first) to deliver amazing stuff to people's pockets and get even more money back from them in return.

Paul was formerly Client Services Director at Pell & Bales so knows a thing or two about fundraising and telephones. He also tweets like it's going out of fashion and writes a blog that i) gets far more readers than this one and ii) includes lots of gems like the image above – which gives you a good idea of just what a top man he is to work with.

Sadly, Paul's appointment is not the end of our recruitment drive. We're still very much in the market for an Account Director and Account Managers who want to work with us. So if you're brilliant at fundraising and have some experience either charity or agency side then do email us at jobs@openfundraising.com

James

Remember your inner child?

My inner child and I love BBDO's print campaign for the Museum of Childhood:

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2008/december/dont-forget-your-inner-child

You know you've done a good job when the readers of Creative Review are all asking where they can buy your ads.

Lara

Water Water Everywhere

Everyone loves freebies. No-one likes to pay for water. And water bottles are BAD for the environment. Here's just three reasons why you should download the Water, Water, Everywhere app today. It's also free and will show you all of the places you can get free water! Fountains, cafes, KFC Eastbourne.

So stay hydrated without damaging the environment. Do it now.

Richard

Funny graphic

From Anna Rose Kerr

Richard

Tell me why I like mondays...

No, I'll tell you.

After months of searching for the perfect addition to Team Copy here at Open, we have finally found 'the one'.

She's called Lara and she starts on monday. Which is why, for one week only, I like mondays.

Lara's previous work as a scrivener includes Macmillan's little green book of fundraising ideas – which is the envy of a few of our clients, I can tell you.

Welcome to Boomtown, Lara.

Matt

Imogen gave £1,000 to...

Thames Reach £400

On a freezing night in February I came across a boy of 19 in Angel, sitting on the pavement crying with an empty cap in front of him. He had only a thin coat on. In an effort to help, I gave him food, a hot drink and then called a homeless street team who were dispatched to find him and give him a bed for the night. It had taken two months for a stranger like me to notice him. This struck a chord with me – especially when he said how lonely and scared he was. He was ignored and did not know how he would manage to eat or find shelter.

The charity Thames Reach is a London based charity that helps homeless and vulnerable people off London’s streets. They not only have street teams providing help, but also aid rehabilitation, through teaching and re-housing schemes. Since 2008, they have brought 2,000 rough sleeper off the streets and have helped 20,725 vulnerable people. My money will only go so far, but I hope it helps towards their vision of ending street homelessness.

Mr Brightside Project £250

This charity was set up in memory of a colleague of mine, Stephen Johns, who died of bowel cancer when he was just 26 years old. This was obviously a huge shock to family and friends as he was such a vibrant, active, happy and lovely man.

The Mr Brightside project aims to increase awareness of bowel cancer in those under the age of 50, encourage cancer research and provide support facilities to sufferers and families through difficult times. Stephen is very much missed, but not forgotten. His family continue to strive to make the charity’s goals a success.

As you can see, I have receive a personal note from Stephen’s family, which has made the gift even more special to me. I plan to partake in their sponsored events in the future and will continue my support.

SOS Children’s Villages £350

Following a similar theme, I felt I needed to help overseas. I am sure many of you will have seen the documentaries about street children and orphaned children affected by AIDS, displacement and so on. SOS children’s villages help these children by taking them in – giving small groups of children the chance of companionship and a foster mother, who stays with them. They are given shelter, education and a good foundation for adult life.

I now sponsor a little girl in Malawi, Africa. Her name is Lucy Chimwenwe and I am told both her parents died in October 2010. She is only two years old and has survived this, and malnutrition. I am happy to say that now she is being cared for and has developed a healthy appetite for peanut butter. I am planning to write to her and send her some stickers to play with. I look forward to learning about her progress as she grows up and gains confidence.