Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Why Donors Drop Out

Carefully study Bloomerang’s “Donor Loyalty” chart below. With the exception of ‘death and ‘poverty’, nonprofits by their own actions — or lack of them — control whether a donor stays or goes. That’s right, 53% of the reasons donors give for heading to the exit is because the organization failed to properly communicate in one […]

Learn More February 27, 2013

Function Like A Newsroom

You’ve heard The Agitator use the word ‘relevance’ over and over. Why? Because relevance is the only gateway to your donors these days. They’ll no longer allow you to just barge in with stuff you think is important. Indeed, relevance is a concept that originates totally in the customer. The consumer/donor, not you (the brand) […]

Learn More February 26, 2013

Is Your Nonprofit Going The Way Of The GOP?

The liberal cable news pundits are having a field day chronicling the ‘demise’ of the Republican Party as a major factor in the future of national politics in the U.S. They reason, citing poll after poll, that soon the Grand Old Party will be relegated to the dustbin of history — a minority coalition of […]

Learn More February 25, 2013

When You’ve Blown It!

What do you do when you’ve really screwed up with your donors or other stakeholders? First of all, I’m assuming: a) you have ways of listening to your donors; and b) you are paying attention. Second, you’ve realized that they’re right; you’re wrong. Then do what one of my favorite clients of all time — […]

Learn More February 22, 2013

How To Evaluate Your Nonprofit’s CEO

Earlier this week we reported on our survey of fundraisers’ appraisals of the fundraising prowess and commitment of their CEOs. Our fundraisers gave their CEOs pretty low grades! We asked whether some independent party like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau should rate nonprofit CEOs and Boards — 35% said yes to that idea; […]

Learn More February 21, 2013

Acquisition: More On Counterintuitive Effects Of Premiums

Just to keep the pot boiling here’s a follow-up on my Premiums, Crack Cocaine and Nonprofit Suicide post that spawned some helpful comments. I was particularly interested in the comments of readers with experience in public broadcasting, where the use of back-end premiums or ‘thank you’ gifts continues — after 30 or more years — […]

Learn More February 20, 2013