Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Music To My Ears

Peter Buffett, musician and philanthropist, wrote this piece — The Charitable-Industrial Complex — last week in the NY Times. Much of what he says relates to the programmatic side of what major donors attempt to do and their motivations. For example, he describes “conscience laundering” … “As more lives and communities are destroyed by the […]

Learn More August 1, 2013

Millions Of Words, But Only Six Emotions

Nice short item from Seth Godin the other day. He says there are only six ‘buttons’ to press — or, “keys on the keyboard” — if you’re trying to spread an idea or sell something … Anger, disgust, fear, sadness, happiness and surprise. Four negatives, one positive, and one that could go either way (probably […]

Learn More July 31, 2013

Meet Your Email Competition

It’s not bad enough that every nonprofit you compete with for funds is badgering your donors with email appeals. Their appeals are just the tip of the iceberg. This remarkable infographic from ExactTarget shows you just how crowded those in-boxes will get over the balance of the year. According to ExactTarget, the average online retailer […]

Learn More July 30, 2013

We’re Sorry Ben!

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), one of my alma maters, flubbed it last week, sending a message that graded its many online activists. One who contacted The Agitator received a ‘D’ … and wasn’t happy about it. I’m not sure what interpretation of human nature would have led EDF to think that chastising its activists […]

Learn More July 29, 2013

Donor Fatigue … Even Angels Get It

Now I’ve heard everything. Donors on Nantucket Island have given enough. They’re all tapped out. There’s hardly a free evening any more … what with all the celebrity cocktail parties to attend. So reports the Cape Cod Times, as cited by Nonprofit Quarterly. Said one beseeched, but well-heeled resident: ““We’re full of angels, but you […]

Learn More July 26, 2013

I Love You … I Love You Not …

When it comes to the recipe for lasting, committed relationships, there’s no ingredient as important as consistency. Whether it’s your best friend, your spouse, partner, favorite restaurant, toothpaste or razor blade, I’ll bet that consistency is a main thread that runs through all these relationships. Your best friend or partner didn’t get to be ‘best’ […]

Learn More July 25, 2013