Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Poor Research & Undocumented Best Practices — Barriers To Growth, Part 6

You’d think a $300 billion industry like ours would have empirically based standards and practices readily available and accessible to all. After all, most sectors — ranging from apple growers to doctors and hospitals, and even zoos — have them. Fundraising doesn’t. What we do have is mass of accumulated tribal wisdom, often conflicting, seldom […]

Learn More June 19, 2014

Tsk…Tsk, Tut…Tut

No doubt Monday’s news that Greenpeace suffered a $5.2 million loss on an ill-timed bet in the currency market will unleash a tsunami of tsk-tsking and tut-tutting in our sector. The Associated Press reported that an employee in the finance department at Greenpeace International headquarters in Amsterdam bet the euro would not strengthen against other […]

Learn More June 18, 2014

Telemarketing Case Studies #2

Can you, should you telemarket to high dollar donors? Many of you are probably responding … “YECH!” “GROSS!” “My development director would rip my heart out!” But Gabe Raff at Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey thinks differently. And has the data to back up his approach. Here’s a case study from Gabe on a campaign […]

Learn More June 17, 2014

Cool Stats On Social Media Fundraising

Nonprofit Tech for Good recently proffered 14 “Must Know” stats about fundraising, social media and mobile technology. Here are six to tease you on a Monday morning. I can tell you’re not quite ready yet for heavy lifting this week. 1. Responsive design increases giving 96% on mobile and tablet … 126% on mobile. 2. […]

Learn More June 16, 2014

Telemarketing Case Studies #1

Last week I wrote about fundraising telemarketing, conceding that The Agitator had been neglecting the channel and promising to publish case studies our readers might proffer. I am thrilled to report that readers have responded with some excellent examples of successful telefundraising. Here is the first case study I’d like to share — from PETA […]

Learn More June 13, 2014

Selling Your Board On Direct Response

Roger has written on several occasions about the obstacles that nonprofit boards can present to effective fundraising and growth — see, for example, here and here — especially when it comes to direct response fundraising. Similarly, Tom Harrison, chairman of Russ Reid, writing a recent column in Fundraising Success, recited some of the ‘wisdom’ he’s […]

Learn More June 12, 2014