Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Fundraising In A Multi-Cultural Context

We have been agitating for U.S. fundraisers, in particular, to widen their demographic horizons in planning their fundraising strategies … specifically with respect to engaging the ethnic and racial segments that are driving our population growth. [See here and here.] But I must confess to being asleep at the switch myself. Only when contacted by […]

Learn More July 31, 2014

Poor Or No Strategy — Barriers To Growth, Part 9

Look no further than how strategy is typically thought of by most nonprofits and their consultants and you’ll quickly understand why poor or no strategy is a major barrier to growth. First, what a meaningful strategy that leads to growth is NOT. Strategy that leads to growth is NOT asking three different copywriters to draft […]

Learn More July 30, 2014

The Fudge Factor

Prompted by the Agitator’s piece on The Power of Reciprocity, our friend Ken Burnett checked in from the U.K. to answer our request that readers share some examples of how ‘reciprocity’ has helped their fundraising. Ken’s example, drawn from his forthcoming book, Storytelling Can Change the World, tells of his first-ever fundraising experience and a […]

Learn More July 29, 2014

The Power Of Reciprocity

Another Tom Ahern gem arrived the other day. “What is a successful response rate for acquisition direct mail appeals, in which you ask strangers for a first gift? [ ] .125% (for every 800 appeals mailed, you receive one gift) [ ] .25% (for every 400 appeals mailed, you receive one gift) [ ] .5% […]

Learn More July 28, 2014

Everything Is NOT Awesome

Agitator readers know I have this obsession with online video. Only yesterday I was writing about it. Sooner or later, one of you will take me to task and tell me to get over it already. But every time I get ready to wax eloquent over putting the donor at the center of fundraising, or […]

Learn More July 25, 2014

We Need To Raise More Money Online!

The corner office has spoken: “We need to raise more money online. Get on it!” Oh my … what to do?! Here are three choices the pressured online fundraiser might consider … 1. Make our fundraising emails ‘mobile friendly’. 2. Take a fresh look at our Facebook and other social media presence. 3. Improve the […]

Learn More July 24, 2014