Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Donor Autonomy on Steroids

Is there such a thing as giving too much control to donors? The sector generally operates as though donor control is bad at worst and undesirable at best This sector norm is reflected in many conventional practices: not publishing or promoting or making clear how donors names will be sold eight ways to Sunday […]

Learn More February 26, 2021

Do Rich Donors Differ from Not-Rich Donors? From “Middle”-Rich Donors?

Do people writing four figure checks (i.e. $1,000 to $9,999) have different needs from those donating $20 or those moving the comma and decimal point to the right for an even larger gift? What about the “high touch package to create an elevated donor experience” for the four-figure check group? This is a recommendation in […]

Learn More February 24, 2021

Revenge Giving

Among the many unconventional topics we’ve posted on– rage giving, the Trump bump ( here, here and here among many), and have even dick pics and mince pie— today’s entry takes the prize. When Tommy Marcus, a 25-year-old University of Michigan graduate, learned that Rush Limbaugh had died, he recalled Limbaugh saying, “You know how […]

Learn More February 22, 2021

Heeding The Patient Prediction of Steve MacLaughlin

For years Steve MacLaughlin, VP of Product Management at Blackbaud and author of Data Driven Nonprofits has patiently predicted that online giving would grow beyond 10% of total giving. 2020 was the year it finally happened. The detail of this online breakthrough –along with a treasure trove of other giving data – is reflected in […]

Learn More February 19, 2021

Cat People and Dog People

Are you a cat person or a dog person? The answer to that might impact your choice of a (potential) mate. A recent study explored this and the findings dance between “water is wet”to the “trivial” but with just enough “novel” to warrant mention. Let’s get trivial and water is wet out of the way. […]

Learn More February 17, 2021

Milking Le Après Trump Déluge

Of one thing I was certain while I sat glued—shocked, angered, and saddened– to the televised Impeachment trial: Despite the proceedings’ gravity in the real world, over in the world of political fundraising it would be business-as-usual. Solemnity, good taste and dignity wouldn’t stand a chance. And as sure as an 82-slide presentation at a […]

Learn More February 15, 2021