Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Data Visualization

Sounds like something you don’t want to do, right? Wrong! Seeing data is pretty cool. The Foundation Center last week launched "Philanthropy In/Sight", a data visualization platform designed for grantmakers or anyone seeking to understand the impact of philanthropy throughout the world. I’ll let their release describe this impressive tool: "With this new online tool, […]

Learn More July 20, 2009

Duh, Why Didn’t I Think Of That?

Need some out-of-the-box fundraising advice? It’s summertime … you must have some interns lying about … ask them! As reported by Forbes, Morgan Stanley’s media research department recently asked one of its 15-year-old interns to write a paper describing his generation’s media habits. The memo bluntly said: We won’t pay for any online content We […]

Learn More July 17, 2009

Push Or Pull?

Last week, I applauded blogger Jeff Brooks, who was critical of Charity Navigator for casting aspersions on direct mail fundraising … specifically for buying into the "myth that fundraising is a form of harassment." I stand by that. But I do accept that most direct response prospecting is intrusive by nature … "cold calls" of […]

Learn More July 16, 2009

When To Change Course?

Yesterday, we asked readers to take our Mid-Year Assessment survey … Has the first half half of 2009 met expectations? How are fundraisers tweaking their programs or adjusting their fundraising investments? We won’t publish results till next week, but early returns suggest that folks are relatively calm at this stage. In that context, here’s some […]

Learn More July 15, 2009

Take Your Mid-Year Fundraising Pulse

Avid Agitator readers will recall that we took your fundraising "pulse" as 2008 ended, and we anticipated a bleak 2009. With 2009 half gone, it’s time for a mid-year pulse check. Take our very brief survey here. More optimistic or less? Have you adjusted any of your fundraising program investments? How might you further tweak […]

Learn More July 14, 2009

Survival Of The Fittest?

NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof just wrote the fascinating story of Scott Harrison, a fundraiser and skillful marketer who, as Kristof puts its, is making clean water sexy. Some important fundraising lessons here. Scott is a 33-year-old ex-nightclub promoter who "got religion" while vacationing in South America, then deepened his epiphany by doing a volunteer […]

Learn More July 13, 2009