Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Recession Fundraising – What Your Colleagues Are Doing

We’ve just completed the third in our series of surveys to fundraisers who joined our Vital Signs Panel. The most important question we asked was: "As you adjust your fundraising plans for 2009, what are the three most important strategic changes or emphases you’re likely to make?" It was an opened-ended question. Rather than try […]

Learn More December 19, 2008

Debate On Recession Fundraising Tactics – II

Our previous post on recession fundraising tactics has stirred up a lot of interest. Here’s another experienced practitioner weighing in … Erica O’Brien from Adams Hussey & Associates. Erica’s advice is summed up as Direct Mail Is Not Dead. She’s particularly concerned that nonprofits not drop out of the acquisition biz to save short term […]

Learn More December 18, 2008

How’s A Poor Charity To Know?

Isn’t it ironic? The last 2-3 years have seen a surge in heavy reflection on the part of donors on the matter of evaluating the credibility and performance of would-be nonprofit recipients of their largesse. Are the donations really getting through to the ultimate beneficiaries who need them? Which charities are spending "too much" on […]

Learn More December 17, 2008

Debate On Recession Fundraising Tactics

Yesterday, Roger offered "contrarian" views on fundraising in the recession from "dean of fundraising copywriters" Jerry Huntsinger. Here’s more to chew over regarding fundraising tactics in tough times from AB Data consultant Jeff Malloch. Jeff is particularly unhappy over cost-cutting advice proffered in the Chronicle of Philanthropy back on December 11. Here’s a snippet to […]

Learn More December 16, 2008

Contrarian Fundraiser’s Tips For Recession Recovery

My friend Jerry Huntsinger, sometimes called the "dean of fundraising copywriters", in a piece titled "A Contrarian Approach to Coming Out of A Recession" writes that now is the time to move beyond the worry of recession and turn our attention to coming out of it — in a growth mode. Jerry’s been […]

Learn More December 15, 2008

Marketing to Hispanics

I know … "Belford, we’re sweating making our fundraising budget this year, 2009 looks even more challenging, and you’re blogging on targeting Hispanics … what planet are you living on?! Fine, spend 90% of your efforts on paying the rent. But unless your nonprofit is prepared to hang a "No Hispanics Wanted Here" sign on […]

Learn More December 12, 2008