Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Try A Webinar

Fundraising and marketing tips and training are proliferating in the form of online seminars called “webinars.” Many are offered by leading consulting firms and publishers. Some are free; some have fees. Some are full streamed video; others combine a phone conference with an online Powerpoint presentation. All offer some form of interaction, usually real-time questions […]

Learn More February 17, 2007

When A Nonprofit Isn’t Good Enough

How do you know when a nonprofit isn't good enough? In the commercial world, the measures of performance are pretty clear, even when curiously applied. For instance, head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the San Diego Chargers was just sacked despite having led his team to the best record in the NFL this past season. The […]

Learn More February 15, 2007

7 Words To Remember

According to direct marketer Denny Hatch, these are the seven emotional hot buttons that cause people to act: Fear – the most powerful of all Greed Guilt Anger Exclusivity Salvation Flattery In a disturbing article about fear, Denny talks about Merck's use of fear in its marketing of a vaccine for cervical cancer … efforts […]

Learn More February 14, 2007

Do The Math

Abny Santicola of Fundraising Success recently filed a useful series of stories on channel integration … using direct mail, telemarketing and online channels (as well as other “customer touches”) to optimize donor retention and value. Nowadays any nonprofit fundraiser worth her salt should be integrating. But marketing creativity, good intentions and good theory too often […]

Learn More February 13, 2007

$1 Billion – The Ultimate Matching Gift?

Or a political scam? I'm delighted President Bush has acknowledged that maintaining America's national parks requires an investment of $3 billion over the next ten years, the run-up to the 2016 centennial of the park system. Just as I was delighted last year when he created the largest protected marine reserve in the world. Clearly, […]

Learn More February 12, 2007

Best Ever Direct Mail – National Psoriasis Foundation

Here from Catie Coman at the National Psoriasis Foundation is a “best ever” fundraising appeal to current donors. Catie says: “This pulled an amazing 18% response rate from our active donors. Its one of the most successful direct mail pieces in the history of the organization.” Two small observations about this letter. First, it offers […]

Learn More February 11, 2007