Award Winning Blog - Agitator

The 59 “Smartest” Orgs Online

“A” for the idea. “D” for the execution. Unfortunately, that's how I'd rate this effort by Seth Godin (before whom I normally genuflect) to identify the “smartest” nonprofits in terms of using the latest online tools (especially the so-called Web 2.0 social networking platforms like Flickr, MySpace, etc) to build community and enthusiasm. To be […]

Learn More January 17, 2007

Are Best Practices A Crutch?

Describing his skepticism about best practices, David Baker, VP of E-mail Solutions at Avenue A/Razorfish, web consultants to some of the best known brands in the world (including Oxfam, for whom they created this gifting website), says this: Best practices are like benchmarks. They are very personal and contextual. Applied incorrectly, best practices can become […]

Learn More January 16, 2007

Medieval Direct Mail

Fundraising veteran Mal Warwick responded with this letter to The Agitator's recent appeal for “Best Ever” direct mail fundraising packages. He credits San Francisco fundraiser Lisa Hoffman with the find. Written by Buddhist monk Eihei Dogen of the Kannondori Monastery and sent to monks throughout Japan, it's a classic “bricks and mortar” appeal … in […]

Learn More January 15, 2007

Wear It On Your Sleeve

I've been reading a blog called The Nonprofiteer lately with great enthusiasm. The Nonprofiteer is witty, provocative … at times ascerbic, and always has a point of view. Here, for example, is author Kelly Kleiman's take on those corporate promotions where the company says, “Buy our product and we'll contribute to charity X.” The Other […]

Learn More January 14, 2007

Getting Attention

Nonprofit communications consultant Nancy Schwartz writes an impressive blog called Getting Attention that you might find helpful. To help identify possible blogging priorities, she's kicking off the new year with a brief survey, including questions like: What are your top three communications goals for 2007? (choose from checklist) As you look ahead to 2007, please […]

Learn More January 13, 2007

Pew, Pew, Pew!

The Agitator just can't say enough good things about the various Pew Research arms. If you collect a paycheck from a nonprofit group and do not regularly follow the various studies of these folks on Americans' media habits, on attitudes of various demographic segments about public issues, about trends in media coverage, you oughta be […]

Learn More January 12, 2007