Award Winning Blog - Agitator

Past Behavior Predicts Future Behavior – Who Cares?

This post’s title largely summarizes my view. Past giving predicts future giving and so begins the circular logic of donor understanding. It’s akin to noting that someone is on time because they tend to be punctual. Knowing that past behavior predicts future behavior can make you more efficient but you can efficient your way out […]

Learn More August 30, 2021

How to Ruin Good Copy

We think and worry a lot about copy (here, here, here and here). And so does Tom Ahern, Kathy Swayze, Jeff Brooks and many other proven fundraising copywriters. Are we wasting our time? Let me explain the reason behind this question. A well-crafted piece of fundraising copy is far more than words on paper or […]

Learn More August 27, 2021

The Shape of a Good Story

Everyone’s got a story. If only this were true. In our extensive review of fundraising copy we find the sector copy reads more like an academic journal than an involving work of fiction. In case you’re wondering, the latter produces more reading and giving. The story part of the sector’s writing is especially weak. So, […]

Learn More August 25, 2021

No More Nudges

Behavioural Economics took flight only to come crashing down with a bang. Failure to replicate even the most basic of findings has started to raise eyebrows and questions. I can personally attest to this. I wasn’t immune to the allure of cognitive biases and the quick and easy interventions they offer – a.k.a nudges. I […]

Learn More August 23, 2021

Fundraising’s Silver Bullet

In the nonprofit world where 7 out of 10 newly acquired donors will not give to that organization again, you’d think fundraisers and CEOs would be tripping over themselves to gain ANY insight on what they could be doing to hold on to supporters by improving donor experiences. The commercial world figured out the value […]

Learn More August 20, 2021

Fundraisers Giving Back

One of the truly impressive qualities of folks in fundraising is their generosity when it comes to giving back to advance our trade. You can see this generosity in the Comments sections of The Agitator –the willingness to share criticism, thoughts, and ideas. ….And in the countless hours of webinars and conferences presented by dozens […]

Learn More August 18, 2021