Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Where Does The Passion Come From?

This ‘news’ item from The Onion, Man Has Loyalty To Pretzel Brand, is of course a spoof. But the truth behind it is that people can develop a passion, and with that, loyalty, for all sorts of things … even a pretzel brand. The initial attraction might be entirely accidental or casual. Roger cited nonprofit […]

Learn More June 30, 2016

Starting Over #3: Do You Really Know Your Donors?

The billboard in Boston’s Logan Airport caught my eye and got me thinking: “Can you design an experience your customers really want to have?” Modified for Nonprofit Land the question became: How many nonprofits can truly claim to know their donors well enough that they can deliver experiences their donors really want to have? Not […]

Learn More June 29, 2016

Good Video Technique, But How Appealing?

Take a look at this video appeal from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). I think it’s a very well crafted online appeal in a technical sense. Try putting your clinician hat on and see if you agree. The appeal consists of a video embedded in an email appeal. Here’s what I like about the […]

Learn More June 28, 2016

Mid-Level Giving: What’s Your Strategy?

Without question the most neglected area of fundraising — after retention — involves mid-value or mid-level giving. Organizations are leaving millions and millions and millions on the table. Lots of folks talk about the need to launch a mid-level program with all the good intentions in the world. But few actually do anything to get […]

Learn More June 27, 2016

Charity: Water Is Special. But It’s The Video!

I suppose Charity: Water’s key breakthrough was its offer to direct marketed donors — ‘all of your donation will go to program, our overhead is covered by major gifts’. And the money has poured in, as the organization has matched its unique offer with brilliant online marketing technique. Their latest innovation (some might say gimmick) was […]

Learn More June 24, 2016

Improving Your Presentations

Your Morning Factoids: 32 million American adults are illiterate. An additional 21% (about 50 million) read below the 5th grade level. The average American can listen to a speech given at 210 words per minute without losing comprehension. People pay more attention to gestures than words. Your Morning Advice: The simpler, slower and more expressive […]

Learn More June 23, 2016