Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Pandemic Accelerant

The most frequent topic at Agitator editorial meetings in recent weeks has centered on the question “What does this pandemic mean for the future of fundraising?” More specifically, what should we be doing to help organizations prepare for what all of us here believe will be a long, slow, multi-year recovery that could have us […]

Learn More June 17, 2020

The Richest Americans’ Poor Response to Covid-19

Sooner or later every fundraiser has heard—and many have put to use—the story of the “Widow’s mite” in terms of illustrating and suggesting a level of sacrificial and cheerful giving. Mark 12:42-44 and Luke 21:2-4 tell the story of the widow who gave all she had, two “mites”—the tiny copper coins circulated in Judaea during the time […]

Learn More June 15, 2020

Second Chance to Tap Hidden Gold Mine

When the pandemic struck I’m sure lots of folks wished like hell they had a monthly giving program in place. Sure would be nice to have a regular, predictable source of revenue in these trying times. The Agitator is a big believer in second chances. (Actually, given the quantity of posts we’ve done on monthly […]

Learn More June 12, 2020

Remembering Jaap Zeekant

Jaap Zeekant, a pillar of Dutch and international fundraising died on May 28 at age 69. Beyond the flash and recognition of the conference speaker’s podium fundraising is a business where the audience doesn’t see or feel the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes. For nearly 40 years Jaap, with his […]

Learn More June 10, 2020

Constantly Mailing Your ‘Best’ Donors Can Make Them Your ‘Worst’

It is inarguable that increasing the number of mailings increases current demand/responses. Send out more mail, get more demand/responses. But, this decision making behind “mail more, make more” lives in the short-term. We estimate the probability (usually crudely with RFM business rules) that a donor will give and then include them or not. Because the selection […]

Learn More June 8, 2020

American Renewal

One of the great advantages of older age is that experience seen in life’s rear-view mirror often provides a helpful understanding of what’s happening as seen through the front windshield of today. What I see today, while deeply disturbing in so many ways, gives me great hope. This is especially true where citizen action and […]

Learn More June 5, 2020