Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Which Mailbox Delivers Emotion?

Here’s a good study to read to follow-up on Roger’s post this week about multi-channel integration. Done by Epsilon, the Consumer Channel Preference Study (registration required) focuses particularly on consumer preferences with respect to direct mail and email. But it also looks at social media and mobile. (One disappointment … nothing on telemarketing.) Some findings: […]

Learn More December 15, 2011

Be Wary Of Absolutist Advice

Yesterday on his Future Fundraising Now blog (before which The Agitator often genuflects), Jeff Brooks proffered The case against innovation. It seems he tried to innovate once and failed. But now he’s made a second mistake, he’s broadly generalized from that experience and concludes: “If you want your fundraising to work, stick to the conventions.” […]

Learn More December 14, 2011

What Makes Good Donors – Nature vs. Nuture?

Does anyone believe good donors are born versus created? That some are inherently and fatalistically destined for philanthropic greatness while others are naturally predisposed against it? Before you dismiss out of hand, there is some evidence that there is distribution for empathy and most folks have an “average” amount while other, smaller groups are at […]

Learn More December 13, 2011

Flat Earth Fundraising — Wanted: A Roll Of Human Duct Tape

The term ‘multi-channel integration’ has garnered more ink, conference bookings and webinar time this year than any other concept in our trade. But … the more attention it gets, the more I keep wondering: If so many are touting the glory of this new fundraising heaven, why are so few organizations actually making it through […]

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Anything New On Your Fundraising Agenda?

I suppose in December about half a fundraiser’s time is devoted to scrambling for those year-end dollars, and the other half is spent concocting a fundraising plan for the new year that will make the bosses smile. Of course, getting that smile depends on projecting growth in revenue! Are you projecting growth in revenue for […]

Learn More December 12, 2011

It Feels Great To Give

Apropos of our conversation the past two days regarding the downside of expecting or making donors think about their impulse to give, check out this article from NY Times yesterday: Charity Campaigns Try Gentle Approach to Get Shoppers to Spend on Good Deeds. In the campaigns discussed, groups like the American Red Cross and Oxfam […]

Learn More December 9, 2011