Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Exceeding Expectations

Most nonprofit marketers — especially direct marketers — operate in a culture of hype … hyping fear, anger or suffering; hyping urgency; hyping “new” solutions to persistent age-old problems. Some believe that such hype (though we wouldn't term it that) is necessary to win initial, preciously-guarded attention for our causes and purposes. But in a […]

Learn More June 12, 2007

Time To Pull The Plug At NAACP?

All I know about the NAACP is what I read in the news. So I'm writing as an average citizen. From the latest news, the “average citizen” takeaway has to be … this organization is brain dead … shouldn't somebody pull the plug? … are all nonprofits this inept? Not only are they laying off […]

Learn More June 11, 2007

Agitator Summer Reading List

Awhile back we asked Agitator readers to share their favorite “marketing” books with us. A number of you did, helping us create the first annual Agitator Summer Reading List. For the most part, these are not lightweight titles, but if you're in the nonprofit marketing, fundraising or management biz, you'll find them entertaining and provocative. […]

Learn More June 8, 2007

Whine At Your Own Risk

Bloggers continue to debate in our virtual world whether it's appropriate for nonprofits to be held to “business standards” in terms of demonstrated program impact and management effectivess (see this recent Agitator post). However, nonprofit executives operating in the real world must recognize that the debate is already over! Consider this remark, in a Forbes […]

Learn More June 7, 2007

Innovation Isn’t A Luxury

Joe Waters, blogging at Selfish Giving, warns nonprofits not to outlast their “welcome on the dance floor.” We heartily agree with his observation: “…as the line between philanthropy and marketing (and let's not forget entertainment) blurs, traditional forms of fundraising — and the nonprofits that use them — look more and more like relics.” Joe […]

Learn More June 6, 2007

“Suck” By Any Other Name

Do you know a nonprofit that sucks? Or do you consider the very premise of the question insulting? Or, conceding that some nonprofits working toward the same goal might be more effective (dare I say, more deserving?) than others, is it just the term “suck” that bothers you? Sean Stannard-Stockton, blogging at blank”>Tactical Philanthropy, points […]

Learn More June 5, 2007