Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Striking Back

I love it when a nonprofit vigorously stands up for its friends and strikes back at its opponents. Not much room for wimpish go-along-to-get-along behavior in The Agitator’s world. And so it was with delight that I read the news release from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) noting that attacks by its nemesis […]

Learn More September 14, 2015

Are You Working on CX?

The Agitator and colleagues like Ken Burnett have been writing heaps about customer/donor experience, hoping to establish that how nonprofits engage with their donors is as important to their fundraising success as it is to corporations engaging customers effectively for business success. See here, including the footnote, for the sordid history. I don’t know if we’re succeeding in making […]

Learn More September 11, 2015

When Donors Speak Do You Listen?

More importantly, the question should be, ‘when donors talk do you listen — and do you respond? My guess is that very few organizations take the time and care required to respond to the comments, insights, complaints and suggestions of donors and other constituents. Our sector isn’t alone of course. Failure to respond to customer […]

Learn More September 10, 2015

Mediocre Nonprofits

Of course every nonprofit claims it is doing god’s work, and doing it in superlative fashion. At least that’s the claim executive directors make to their boards … and fundraisers make to their donors. But how true are those claims? Issues of tactics and investment aside, ultimately superlative performance — including in fundraising — comes […]

Learn More September 9, 2015

Preparing for Your 6 Minutes

Amidst the continuing headlines — New Shame of the Charities and Charities to ban bullying of donors — fundraising in the U.K. continues to be buffeted between media outrage and an all-to-ready willingness to cave into ‘regulation‘ in hopes it will all go away. Fortunately, some veteran voices are offering a helpful dose of perspective and calm. None more […]

Learn More September 8, 2015

Predictive Signs of Future Giving

A fundamental belief held by most of us is that the more we know about prospects or donors the better we’re able to fashion a strategy for building relationships and hopefully winning or upgrading the size of their commitment. The wealth screening industry is built on that belief. What many folks may not understand as […]

Learn More September 4, 2015