Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Are your donors hardcover or paperback?

Amazon is the standard against which other online experiences are measured. When donors say “I want to have my information saved on your site so I can donate without re-entering it” or “I want to get my acknowledgment from you rapidly with no errors,” the “like Amazon” that could follow these statements isn’t any less […]

Learn More January 25, 2018

Demographics: The Second-Best Way to Segment Your File

Yes, demographics are the second-best way to segment. The best way, however, is literally almost any other way. Take, for example, the experience of Todd Yellin, Netflix’s VP of Product Innovation. Netflix has one of the great treasure troves of data out there. What does he use? Quote: “There’s a mountain of data that […]

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RFM Segmentation: First Refuge of the Scoundrel

“Wait!”, I hear you cry. “You rail against segmentations that aren’t predictive. But transactional RFM segmentation is not a bad predictor.” And I will stipulate that: A person will tend to give the amounts that they have given in the past. A current donor is more likely to give than a lapsed donor. A donor […]

Learn More January 24, 2018

The Cradle of Relationship Fundraising

“Fundraisers always prosper when they focus less on the money that people send in and more on the people who are sending it. As a fundraiser, you’ll get better at your job and get more out of life when you deliver what your donors want rather than chasing after what […]

Learn More January 23, 2018

Explaining Abstract Numerical Concepts–Like “Eleven”– To Your Boss

Any discussion of metrics in The Agitator must include a nod to “The Curse of Fundraising Innumeracy” about an Agitator reader who tried to keep a straight face when someone said they had a 95% retention rate. And clearly there is a problem when otherwise smart people with big budgets don’t “do” numbers. But I’d like […]

Learn More January 22, 2018

The Behavioral Science of Fundraising Metrics

You’ve heard us talk about applying behavioral science to help nudge donors in the right direction with topics like: Symmetrically structuring your symbolic gifts The desire to complete sets and goals What happens in your brain as you donate Using the fresh start effect Creating exceptions to mental accounting How to frame your matching gift […]

Learn More January 19, 2018