Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Presidents’ Day or Identity Crisis?

It’s an odd holiday here in the States. The Brits might call it a Bank Holiday. It used to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. In fact, in the annals of US Government paperwork it’s still officially listed as this by the US Office of Personnel Management, which I think is like their HR Department. At any […]

Learn More February 19, 2024

A French Economist Walks Into A Bar…

Direct marketing can feel like that overeager friend showing up uninvited but occasionally bringing really good snacks. The one always knocking on your door with something to sell, boast about, or ask for. But what if the real magic of direct marketing isn’t in the knock or the sale, but the echoes left behind? Frédéric […]

Learn More February 16, 2024

Fidelity’s Valentine for a Better World

Fidelity Charitable, the largest sponsor of Donor Advised Funds has just released its 2024 Giving Report which you can –and should—download and read. Top Lines From Fidelity Report Here’s a summary of Fidelity Charitable’s 2023 activity. 11.8 billion in grants 2.3 million individual gifts –up from 626K 10 years ago given by 322,000 donors—up from 119,000 […]

Learn More February 14, 2024

Climbing the Mountain of Success: Why Your 3% Improvement Might Still Leave You at Base Camp

You just ran a simple, low-cost A/B test and improved something by 3%. Your average donation test went up from “meh” to “slightly less meh.” These can feel like wins that matter. But if your goal is building the brand and growing the supporter base year over year then it might be akin to a […]

Learn More February 12, 2024

The Barcode’s Birthday and Its Role in Fundraising World

In the Muzak -misted modern marketplaces, amidst the rhythmic beep of machines, lies a revolution so profound yet so quietly integrated into the fabric of our daily lives that it scarcely draws attention. This revolution, now marking its 50th anniversary, is none other than the barcode—that modest stripe of black and white that’s silently reshaped […]

Learn More February 9, 2024

To Ask or Not to Ask: The Shakespearean Dilemma of Fundraising

If people enjoy giving, then why avoid a fundraising ask? Being solicited and the joy that can arrive from being charitable are not synonymous. Heck, sometimes they aren’t even far-flung cousins. Relatedly, the act of giving is not what brings joy. It’s how the person feels afterwards. I don’t give because I feel sad, I […]

Learn More February 7, 2024