Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Prize For Funders?

Holden Karnofsky at The GiveWell Blog has been making a good case that foundations should release far more information about their outcomes. How poorly or brilliantly are their grants achieving the intended goals? And what can the rest of us — nonprofits and funders alike — learn from the vast experimentation that is occurring? What […]

Learn More August 9, 2007

More Lessons From Prez Campaigns

Sorry, The Agitator will keep coming back to this theme for at least sixteen months! There's much for nonprofits to learn from the prez candidates' use of technology in their campaigns. Here's the best assessment we've seen of what's happening and what's not, from Edward Cone writing in the somewhat obscure CIO Insight. Please read […]

Learn More August 8, 2007

Copywriting Checklist

Last week we talked about checklists, and asked for yours. Here's a checklist for writing copy — copy that seeks response — from Agitator reader Ellis Robinson, author of The Nonprofit Membership Toolkit. Some boxes to check: Use the word “you” in the first sentence or paragraph. Make sure there is a reason to respond […]

Learn More August 7, 2007

Do-Gooders Are Corruptible Too

Just look at a recent listing of articles from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Washington Post and the New York Times: Smithsonian Fires Executive Over Credit-Card Expenses Government Probes Earmarks for Marine Center Nonprofit Loan Group Will Scale Back Operations(after Washington Post report on “extravagent spending”) Struggling Arts Group Approved Big Bonus for President Harvard's Cutting […]

Learn More August 6, 2007

Dr. Warwick Will See You Now

One of the most accomplished and experienced direct marketing fundraisers we know is Mal Warwick. Astonishingly, Mal has been faithfully answering questions about fundraising through his website since 1994. And not just from paying patients. The result is a treasury of more than 500 Q&As that have just been assembled, categorized and published here. We're […]

Learn More August 3, 2007

Got Any Checklists?

I love checklists. Especially other people's. I'm speaking not so much of the “today's to do” type of list, as I am the “make sure you've done this” list. Like the “20 things your mail package must include” list or the “10 questions to ask before you send that email appeal” list. Very practical. High […]

Learn More August 2, 2007