Award Winning Blog

I have a bridge to sell you

George C Parker is a legend among con people. The man actually sold the Brooklyn Bridge. Several times. Some of his victims were picked up by police as they attempted to erect toll booths. I think of him every time fundraising advice begins with the words “all you have to do is…”. A decade or […]

Learn More March 29, 2024

AI Images in Fundraising, Help or Hurt?

Real or fake? Manipulative or justified? A charity uses composite stories to reduce expenses A charity uses composite stories to protect the anonymity of beneficiaries A photographer edits photos to reduce sensationalism A photographer edits photos to increase sensationalism A disaster relief charity uses photos from a prior disaster given safety and ethical constraints using […]

Learn More March 27, 2024

Fat on the Ends, Skinny in the Middle

Here at The Agitator, we don’t subscribe to the “we told you so” mindset. BUT…14 years ago we alerted readers to what looked like both an anatomical and fundraising failure on the part of too many nonprofits. In June of 2010 our post Cashing in on The Chasm noted, “ the much-vaunted “Fundraising Pyramid” too […]

Learn More March 25, 2024

Innovate Within the Box

“We want creative and innovative ideas”. I’ve heard that before. What’s often not stated, “but make sure they are familiar to us and have a track record of success.” It’s like asking for a brand new recipe but insisting it tastes exactly like grandma’s cooking—innovation, with a side of the way its always been done. […]

Learn More March 22, 2024

Make it Relevant. Helpful?

Your message should be relevant. That statement, proffered as ‘advice’, is about as useful as its polar opposite, don’t make your message irrelevant to the audience. Can the same message sent to everyone on your donor file or in your acquisition marketing be equally relevant to everyone? There’s a stark difference between targeting and tailoring […]

Learn More March 20, 2024

Hal Malchow’s Last Campaign

No wonder my phone exploded yesterday. This headline explains why: “Hal Malchow Is Going to Die on Thursday. He has One Last Message for Democrats.” The subhead continued, “The pioneering Democratic consultant has been planning his death for decades.” In his inimitable style of facts salted with grace, compassion and deep knowledge of the American […]

Learn More March 18, 2024