Award Winning Blog - Agitator

What’s Coming? A Trump Bump, Slump or Dump?

I’ve been in this trade through every U.S. presidential election since 1964 and the fundraising aftermath has always been predictable. If a conservative candidate triumphed, then boom times followed for liberal causes as in Ronald Reagan’s victory in 1980. Conversely, banner results for conservative causes followed a liberal presidential victory, as acquisition, retention rates and […]

Learn More November 9, 2020

The Social Movement Dilemma

Social activism and creating a “movement” is hard work, made harder by a conflicting reality. More extreme actions, often effective at gaining (media) attention and increasing pressure on organizations or institutions, are also likely to reduce popular support. What constitutes ‘extreme’? Perhaps it’s in the eye of the beholder and context dependent. Blocking highways may […]

Learn More November 4, 2020

The Power of a Personal, Unexpected Thank You

I’m certain the U.S. 2020 Election won’t stop on November 4th. But I am hopeful that the torrent of urgent emails, urgent text messages and urgent phone calls will at least decrease to a garden hose flow, as opposed to a fire hose flood. A necessary part of this year’s process has been the flood […]

Learn More November 2, 2020

How To Write a Case for Support in One Week

Surprisingly few fundraisers –and boards, and CEOs and Comms directors—truly understand the difference between a Mission Statement: “Why we do what we do?” …a Vision Statement: “How things will be better.” …and a Case Statement: “Why should the donor care?” So, it’s not surprising that Tom Ahern on the first page of the first chapter […]

Learn More October 30, 2020

Why You Should Never Listen to Someone Like Me About Behavioural Science

I’m a proud fundraiser. But I feel deep shame and embarrassment about terrible advice I’ve shared in the past concerning the application of behavioural science. Don’t get me wrong, if I’d been strapped to a lie detector and asked if I genuinely thought I was helping I’d have passed. But sincerity isn’t accuracy. Like so […]

Learn More October 28, 2020

A Missing Ingredient To Raising More Money – Donor Personality

Imagine running a digital ad or doing a list select for the mail and only being able to select a single attribute or audience parameter – e.g. age, geography, political affiliation. My bet is most fundraisers would probably choose an attribute from Facebook or Google or a data co-op that indicated past charitable behavior. Now, […]

Learn More October 26, 2020