Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Are You A Dinosaur?

Hopefully it’s evident by our posts over the past 10 years that Tom and I worry a lot about the future of fundraising and the nonprofit sector. What we don’t spend enough time writing about is the talent pool — more accurately, the talent puddle — that is essential for the future. Consequently, I was […]

Learn More February 16, 2016

Become A Youtility

Today I followed a couple of links that led me, late bloomer that I am, to this ‘new’ word: Youtility. It’s a nifty term, capturing a concept that all fundraisers should have embraced by now. I started with Claire Axelrad’s great seductive headline — Want to Guarantee Fundraising Success? Dive Into These 5 Fundamentals. So I […]

Learn More February 15, 2016

We Need A World Of Betty Humphries

Here is one of the most fantastic letters you’ll ever read. I’m so happy that Hilborn Charity eNews has shared it. It’s written by 10-year-old Betty Humphries (but soon to be 11 as she points out in her letter), who was inspired to apply for the job of chief executive of Greenpeace. The outgoing chief, […]

Learn More February 12, 2016

Needed: The Stomach And Resolve For Building Donor Relationships

Tom’s post Donor Relationships? Balderdash produced a wonderful wave of comment from donor-oriented Agitator readers on the importance of working hard on designing and tending the relationship garden. Lisa Sargent and Mary Cahalane share the experience and rewards of attentiveness to the donor relationship. Mike Cowart summarizes of a major healthcare organization that, because of […]

Learn More February 11, 2016

Donor ‘Relationships’? Balderdash!

Nonprofit communications guru Tom Ahern has just published a fascinating post in his e-newsletter asking and answering the question: How long does the average donor give? Eventually I expect the article will be available to slowpokes on his website. Before I report the answers to his question (he asked a whole flotilla of consultants and practitioners), […]

Learn More February 10, 2016

Writer’s Block At Agitator’s Southern HQ

It’s a gorgeous summer — yes summer — day at The Agitator’s Southern Hemisphere headquarters, so I’m having a bit of writer’s block. So I’m turning to our readers for help. Think about the coming year and the fundraising performance you’ve projected for your organization. Tell me, what do you see as the single biggest obstacle you […]

Learn More February 9, 2016