Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Mind the Gap: Why Behavioral Nudges Don’t Always Transfer to Fundraising

Nudges have been the darling of behavioral science—subtle tactics designed to steer choices in predictable ways. Businesses use them everywhere, from pricing strategies to product placement. So, can fundraisers just borrow these tricks and expect the same results? Not quite. The gap between consumer and donor decision-making is massive. Buying a product is about value-for-money […]

Learn More February 19, 2025

President’s Day or Identity Crisis?

It’s an odd holiday here in the States. The Brits might call it a Bank Holiday. It used to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. In fact, in the annals of US Government paperwork it’s still officially listed as this by the US Office of Personnel Management, which I think is like their HR Department. At any […]

Learn More February 17, 2025

Chasing High Returns Is Killing Your Growth

Who doesn’t want to show off a shiny 4:1 Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) from your latest campaign? Your CFO is probably already dreaming about next quarter’s numbers. What idiot fundraiser would argue against channeling dollars to the higher ROAS activities? This idiot. Here’s what everyone’s addicted to: Paid Search Brand Terms: 8:1 ROAS (Translation: […]

Learn More February 14, 2025

Old Wine, New Bottles, and Why Your ‘Engagement’ Metrics Are Drunk

The jangle fallacy occurs when two similar or identical things are assumed to be different because they are labeled differently – old wine in new bottles. This is rife in psychology where the term originated. My fan faves, Grit. In high school my kids were required to read the Duckworth book. Grit was a new […]

Learn More February 12, 2025

Two Heads. No Heart.

The news isn’t good. But then, when is it? A new administration, a funding freeze here and abroad, and suddenly, nonprofits and the programs of organizations we count on in a crisis—are on the chopping block. This time, though, it’s different. It’s deliberate. It’s a systematic, cold-blooded dismantling of programs that actually help people. Why? […]

Learn More February 10, 2025

When Best Practices Go Boom: A Behavioral Scientist’s Guide to Fundraising Folly

Throughout more than a century of publication, the Sears catalog was the go-to source for American shoppers seeking out standard home goods. But nestled between listings for hammocks and baseball uniforms, you could also buy… dynamite. Yes, actual dynamite—no license required, no background checks, just 13 cents a pound (adjusted for inflation, still absurdly cheap). […]

Learn More February 7, 2025