Award Winning Blog - Agitator

The Foibles & Follies Of Donor Conversion

A quick Google search for “converting donors” turns up all kinds of sage and not so sage advice on how to do it. But ‘conversion’ is a mis-used term tossed around with far too much abandon and far too little real understanding. The result? Tons of false and unrealizable expectations and far, far too much […]

Learn More May 21, 2013

Wear Your Donor’s Shoes

Does your nonprofit have fundraising rules that would bewilder your average donor? From Gayle Gifford at Cause & Effect, here’s the kind of story about donor-nonprofit mis-interaction that makes The Agitator’s hair curl. To sum her story up: She the would-be donor: ‘Please let me give now!’ The nonprofit: ‘You can’t. You can’t.’ And then, […]

Learn More May 20, 2013

Fairy Tale Fundraising

Roger recently presented at Fundraising Success’ Engage Conference. Now, he undoubtedly said many, many wise things, but he read the following fairy tale, which arguably contains the nub of his message. Enjoy! Snow White and the Seven Small Woods People There was once an evil fundraising queen. So vain and out […]

Learn More May 17, 2013

To Hell With Facts

Image by Tim Gruber Jeff Brooks’ brilliant Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications features an essential chapter titled, “Persuade with Story, not Statistics.” Jeff warns: “We’re all tempted to marshal facts and send them out like an army to battle people into being generous. That doesn’t work. If you want people to give, […]

Learn More May 16, 2013

Agitator Editors Nailed As Chauvanist Male Pigs

For those who’ve long suspected that Tom and I are throwbacks, here’s you’re proof. For those who believe social media is by and large bullshit, here’s your proof. And for everyone else, no matter what you want to prove, here’s a great new social media parlor game. Have at it. Let me explain. The Swedish […]

Learn More May 15, 2013

Stop Trying to Convert Donors

Why convert? And to what end? To quote Tom Harrison, Russ Reid CEO, why are nonprofits mad at about 50% of their donors at any given time for donating (in the “wrong” way)? In its attempts at conversion the sector either makes too many assumptions or too few and too many attempts to convert the […]

Learn More May 14, 2013