Award-Winning Blog


Agitator’s Most Enduring Tradition

Whatever Covid-tested holiday parties you’re attending we hope when they’ve ended you’ll fall on your knees and sing along to The Agitator’s favorite carol. Once  again, for our 15th  Christmas Eve, and into our 16th year, we invite you to share our most enduring (only? ) Agitator tradition and  enjoy this unforgettable rendition of O Holy Night. As […]

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Are You Doing “segmentation” or Segmentation?

For purposes of this post all versions of “segmentation” that include air quotes” ” and a lower case ‘s’ are not segmentation at all. Sadly, most versions of claimed Segmentation are really little more than the impersonating cousin named “segmentation”. None of the following is real Segmentation; Mailing the same thing to different audiences.  An […]

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A Charity Just Bought A Behavioral Science Agency, Why?

Nesta is a social change, UK foundation whose seed money came from government.  The Behavioral Insights Team (BIT) is a behavioral insights consultancy whose seed money also came from government.  With a little bit of creativity in financing and deal making, the former just bought the latter for £15mil. Why?  The answer from Nesta’s own […]

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What Images to Use in Fundraising?

Any answer to this question should start with ‘it depends’.  What follows should include, Some theory or evidence on what makes images different and Theory or evidence on what makes people who are looking at the images different and the interplay between the two. However, most answers to this question include pontificating about #1 only, […]

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Emotional Contagion in Social

Emotional contagion is the phenomenon of humans feeling and expressing emotions similar to those around them.  This effect can be triggered by face to face conversations, videos, movies, photographs and even music. Sad begets sad, happy begets happy and angry begets angry. An analysis of Facebook charity posts from the 100 largest US charities shows […]

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3 Lasting Gifts Under $2 for Your Donors

From monthly Apples and Pears to Zoo gift memberships my postal and digital mailboxes are filled with last minute tips for holiday gift giving. All of which got me thinking about gifts every fundraiser should be giving their donors.  I’m not talking about calendars or stuffed animals or tote bags.  Rather consider these essential gifts […]

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