Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Heroic Incrementalism

Now, more than ever, our nonprofit world cries out for “game changing” innovations and solutions. Significant breakthroughs. For many fundraisers, the term “game changing” means some big, bold innovation that can carry us into the Promised Land of Greater Response and Larger Gifts with magical ease. And so, we go through phases of abandoning the […]

Learn More August 6, 2018

Channel strategies die; donor-focused strategies are immortal

Andrew Chen’s Law of Shitty Clickthroughs: “Over time, all marketing strategies result in shitty clickthrough rates.” In addition to being the best-named marketing law, there’s great truth in this. Customers respond to a new form of marketing with excitement. Think how excited the villagers were to get the Wells Fargo wagon in The Music Man […]

Learn More August 2, 2018

Nick’s Brief Instructional Video on the Benefits of Data Hygiene

Editor’s Note: At the Agitator’s weekly editorial meeting we lamented the fact that even the most seemingly sophisticated fundraisers seem to forget the rudimentary/fundamental/absolutely necessary basics–like sending thank-you notes –which we dealt with yesterday. On the top of our list of “Needless and Dangerous Neglect”is the basic and all-important task of maintaining accurate data on […]

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The High Cost of Undervaluing Gratitude

Today I’ll avoid a detailed foray into important topics like donor identity, commitment and segmentation and instead focus on the simple, human concept of gratitude. With this question: “Why do so many nonprofits fail at the most basic task of saying “Thank You” to their donors?” Over and over The Agitator has railed about the importance […]

Learn More August 1, 2018

Don’t Be the Next Blockbuster

I was struck by Cindy Courtier’s comment to Nick’s post on the importance of donor identity and commitment when it comes to creating positive and effective communications with donors. Clearly, Cindy understands what so many fundraisers don’t: Determining a donor’s identity (the “why” of his/her giving) and level of commitment (loyalty to the organization) makes a […]

Learn More July 31, 2018

Why “why” Matters – The Bald Truth

There is always a better way to segment other than resorting to the use of demographics. . I know. We’ve been down this road before. But the core reason is that demographics are an attribute of a person. At best, this attribute is a proxy for some core identity, reason for giving, or goal that […]

Learn More July 30, 2018