Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Reverse Engineering Your Way to Donor Centricity

Understanding the why of human behavior is best unearthed with data straight from our donors. We call it zero-party, that which is voluntarily and knowingly given, typically via a survey. Contrary to the opinion of many, surveys are the best way to measure motivation and needs and innate traits that play a large role in […]

Learn More December 9, 2020

Do You Close the Bathroom Door Even When You’re the Only One Home?

That envelope teaser was written nearly 50 years ago by the great copywriter and my friend Bill Jayme for a highly successful Psychology Today acquisition promotion. Bill wrote that long before the internet. Today, the near constant from the digital crowd (and some direct mail folks as well) would be, “People are too busy to read […]

Learn More December 7, 2020

Identifiable Victim: Better Than Stats; Except When It Isn’t…

Universal truths are universally wrong. This is never more true than when talking about ‘nudges’ from the world of behavioral economics. As the only behavioral science agency in fundraising and with an entire team of social scientists, some of whom are behavioral economists, we are huge advocates of the field and discipline. But… behavioral economics […]

Learn More December 4, 2020

Does Your Donor Service Deliver “WOW!”?

Giving Tuesday– in the midst of a pandemic– coupled with notice of the tragic death of Tony Hsieh, founder and former CEO of Zappos, the online shoe seller, reminds me that more than ever it’s again time hammer home the importance of great Donor Service. (Of course, the first step will be to promptly and […]

Learn More December 2, 2020

Premiums (Can) Reduce Giving

To premium or not to premium, that is the /a question. Wade into this debate at your peril as confirmation bias is powerful and seemingly no amount of evidence in one-direction is likely to sway opinion if you believe the counter view. In fact, you’ll likely dig in deeper in the face of counter-evidence. So, […]

Learn More November 30, 2020

Happy Thanksgiving

We are grateful for the time you give The Agitator. We are grateful for your thoughts and Comments. We are grateful for the work you do for Others. We are grateful for YOU. Happy Thanksgiving! Roger and […]

Learn More November 26, 2020