Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Fire Fundraiser #84?

Earlier this month, Roger flirted with firing the direct response fundraisers for the top 83 charities in America. He cited as ’cause of action’ the poor fundraising performance of these organization as reflected in Target Analytics 2010 Index of National Fundraising Performance. This evoked a spirited and thoughtful response from Stephen Hitchcock, now at Bread […]

Learn More April 18, 2011

New Donors … Garbage In, Garbage Out

The Agitator’s theme this week has been donor retention. Thanks to those of you who have responded so far to our simple survey question: What percentage of your nonprofit’s 1st time donors make a second gift? [Only today and the weekend left to take the survey here. Hey non-responders, is the answer too embarrassing to […]

Learn More April 15, 2011

How To Retain 70% Of New Donors

Before acquiring new donors, learn how to cultivate the ones you have. In a nutshell, that’s the challenge posed by one of the respondents to The Agitator’s donor retention survey. [BTW, two more days for you to take the survey.] I’m reproducing Stephen Best’s entire response below, not because I necessarily want you to stop […]

Learn More April 14, 2011

Repeat Donors Always Welcome

This week, I’m going to wear you down on the subject of retaining donors! It’s THAT important. Here’s more advice on how to hang on to them … this time from Bill Peck of Organizational Solutions, writing in Philanthropy Journal. Bill’s recommendations (amplified here): Send a timely thank you letter within five to seven business […]

Learn More April 13, 2011

How Many Donors Do You Retain?

The Agitator has been writing a lot lately about donor retention, especially basics like saying “Thank you” and getting that all important second gift. So here’s a quick one-question survey about retention of 1st time donors. The question is simple: What percentage of your nonprofit’s 1st time donors make a second gift? If you’re an […]

Learn More April 12, 2011

Welcome Advice

I mean just that … courtesy of Fundraising Success. From Craig DePole at Newport Creative Communications, here’s some very straightforward advice on how to welcome your new donors. In brief (if your nonprofit’s first year retention rate is less than 40%, I suggest you read the whole article): Make it timely. Make it personal … […]

Learn More April 11, 2011