Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Emotion vs. Logic. And The Winner Is …

Over the years in The Agitator, in post after post after post we’ve emphasized the paramount importance emotion in fundraising. As Tom succinctly put it: “Methinks the entire quest for rationalization is really fueled by our emotional need — in the case of having donated — for our benevolence to not have been wasted, violated, foolish […]

Learn More April 29, 2014

Overcoming Barriers To Growth

If measured by the number of organizations, the nonprofit sector is growing quickly in the US. Up a whopping 47% over the past decade. But, if measured by the share of national income representing private giving to nonprofits, there’s been a decrease of 11%. A smaller pie and more mouths to feed is a recipe […]

Learn More April 28, 2014

Do You Trust Advertising?

Well, honestly, do you? YouGov recently conducted a type of survey I see fairly often, looking at the question: Do consumers trust advertising? If, by and large, folks are distrustful of advertising, what makes you think they would look any more favorably upon your fundraising appeals/advertising? Because nonprofits and charities are inherently regarded as more […]

Learn More April 25, 2014

The Year Of The Nonprofit Video

Here is a fascinating look at the already hot nonprofit videos of 2014. Says the author: “…in 2014, viewers have made it clear that they want as many tear-jerking videos as brands can produce … While any brand can create this type of video, the demand for emotional storytelling — be in heartwarming or heartbreaking — […]

Learn More April 24, 2014

Where’s The Money?

We’re all rebounding from the Great Recession, right? Optimistic about fundraising prospects for 2014, right? Well, maybe not so fast … at least not for everyone in the US of A. Our friends at Analytical Ones have completed an analysis of giving by state (and they can provide locality data as well, if you’re interested), […]

Learn More April 23, 2014

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I was planning on writing a post riffing off this great NY Times article — The Found Art of Thank-You Notes — in a hopeful attempt to turn you on to the joy of expressing appreciation. Even if, as a fundraiser mindful of your brand perception, you can’t express yourself on “weighty ecru Connor correspondence […]

Learn More April 22, 2014