Award Winning Blog - Agitator

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

Is Your Organization Really Donor-Centric?

There’s a quick test to determine whether a fundraising organization is truly donor-centered or not. Sadly, most groups fail the test … miserably. The test is simple: who in the fundraising/communications department has the most power? If, as is so often claimed (“we’re donor-centric”), the donor is truly the king or queen, then power will […]

Learn More February 8, 2016

Case Study: Raise More, Ask Less

My St. Patrick’s Day post last year — Are You Abusing Your Donors? — triggered a barrage of comments and protestations pro and con. I knew some nerves had been struck. And it wasn’t because of leprechauns or green beer. It was because I raised the question of whether we should reconsider, revise or evolve the direct […]

Learn More February 5, 2016

You’re a ‘Donor Loser’ … Explain Why To Your Boss!

In this excellent post, Angie Moore reminds us of the frightening statistics from the latest 2015 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report. Angie calls these findings “scary”. Roger warned us about these numbers as well when they first came out … he called the findings “depressing” … “read them and weep” he said. Here are the basic […]

Learn More February 4, 2016

How’s YOUR Performance?

“Charitable giving has recovered from the recession, but year-over-year growth rates are showing signs of slowing.” That’s the conclusion of Blackbaud’s just released Charitable Giving Report: How Nonprofit Fundraising Performed in 2015. You’ll want to download your free copy. The 2015 Report, edited by Steve MacLaughlin, Director of Analytics at Blackbaud covers $18.2 billion in giving […]

Learn More February 3, 2016