Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Before You Write A Word!

We welcome a Guest Agitator today, copywriter Lisa Sargent (www.lisasargent.com). Lisa has a bone to pick with nonprofits who try to write effective fundraising copy — themselves or through consultants — without an explicit creative brief to provide the essential guidance. She’s right. Here’s Lisa … Will this letter win … or lose? I have […]

Learn More July 24, 2009

Fundraisers Adjust 2009 Strategies

Yesterday we reported the quantitative results from The Agitator’s Mid-Year Fundraising Assessment survey. Those responses indicated relative calm at this stage of the fundraising year. As Tom summarized: “Being an optimist, I would characterize the results as saying that seven-in-ten fundraisers believe their programs are holding their ground or improving.” As another optimist commented: “Good […]

Learn More July 23, 2009

Fundraisers Divided On 2009

The verdict is in from Agitator readers … 2009 fundraising for the first half of 2009 is, well, so-so! First of all, thanks to the 130 readers (81% from nonprofits, 19% consultants/agencies) who completed our mid-year assessment survey. Here’s the topline of how you are viewing 2009 to date: 1. Has your program performed better […]

Learn More July 22, 2009

How To Measure Loyalty

In this mini-debate from DMNews, three approaches to measuring loyalty are advanced: 1. Lifetime value — the person who buys (donates) the most over the longest period. 2. Share of wallet — the person who devotes the largest percentage of their spend (or donations) in your category to your product/brand (or nonprofit). 3. Referrals — […]

Learn More July 21, 2009

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