Award Winning Blog - Agitator

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

More On Personal Touch

Yesterday we talked about the power of the Post-it note. Today, something even more powerful … handwriting. [Online fundraisers can tune out now.] Here’s a paean to handwriting by copywriter Karen Zapp: Why Direct Mail — the more personal the better — Will Not Die. Karen asks: “Would you send a sympathy card with a […]

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A Reminder About The Personal Touch

Here’s a curious little study — Post-it Note Persuasion: A Sticky Influence — forwarded to The Agitator by reader Tina Cincotti. In this research project, participants were sent a survey packet and asked to complete the survey. Some packets included an affixed personalized Post-it note. Some packets had no note or other variations. Those receiving […]

Learn More May 13, 2013