Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Try Bending The World To The Shape You Want

It’s graduation season and each year at this time The New York Times runs excerpts from some of the choice commencement speakers. Here’s some fine advice for all of us, not just the Class of 2015. Author Salman Rushdie: “Sink or swim. Well, if possible, don’t sink.” And … “don’t make jackasses of yourselves.” Apple […]

Learn More June 18, 2015

Put Your Donor In The Chair

Many Agitator readers deal regularly with the crafting of direct mail appeals — either writing themselves or commissioning and approving the copywriting work of others. And there’s plenty of advice out there on what makes for effective fundraising letters … length, formatting, structure, signers, etc. But let me suggest that at the core is the voice […]

Learn More June 17, 2015

The Profit In Listening To Donors

Yesterday Roger offered the example, from the Swedish blood donation service, of a brilliant approach to thanking donors (donating blood, donating money … is there a difference?!). Today we have another modest case study … this one on the value of listening to donors. In this case, the charity, National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) was concerned that its […]

Learn More June 16, 2015

Powerful ‘Thank You’ #1

Let’s kick off the week with an innovative and energizing example of the power of ‘thank you’ to enhance both acquisition and retention. A virtual symphony combining the creative use of mobile and a first-rate understanding of the importance of donor experience. This magnificent example is reported in the UK’s Independent. If you donate blood […]

Learn More June 15, 2015

Learning By Giving

For a fundraiser, no doubt it’s great to work in an organization that has sufficient resources to provide for training and mentoring, workshops and conferences, and consulting help. But what about all the fundraisers toiling away in small organisations without such budgets, or where the responsibility for fundraising is just one of many aspects of […]

Learn More June 12, 2015

To Improve Fundraising Results, What Needs To Change?

If you’re not getting the returns you expected and your nonprofit desperately needs on your fundraising efforts, what one thing needs to change? The answer is so simple, it’s staring you in the face. One thing. One word. Any guesses? Before I give my answer, consider this report from Crain’s New York Business — It’s a […]

Learn More June 11, 2015