Award-Winning Blog


One More Way I’ve Probably Ruined My Kids

The echo chamber is getting louder, we tune out damn near everything that doesn’t match what we already believe and we’re much more likely to distrust anyone not like us. Partisan agreement between spouses was around 60% in the mid 60’s, it’s now closer to 85%.  Pew research shows partisans have few friends from the […]

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Brain Dead Fundraising

If Kevin had doubts about the quality of HP’s request for feedback on printer cartridges, he’d love what landed in my inbox. “Brain dead!”  That’s how one of the best fundraisers I know described a digital appeal he received from the Democratic National Committee and forwarded to the Agitator . For those of us continually […]

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It Was Just a Printer Cartridge…

I ordered and received new printer cartridges.  I installed them and they worked.  I did this over two weeks ago.  I got this email survey from HP yesterday. I guess it’s asking about my purchase experience.  I can only guess because it’s hard to decipher.  This email created its own experience and if HP were […]

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Fundraising: From Galaxy to Gutter

“Coincidence” is in the eye of the beholder. And coincidentally both my digital inbox and my television set conspired to deliver three visions of different– three distinctly different– channels and approaches to fundraising.  Some lofty.  Some noble.  Some self-serving. Inspired by Inspiration4 Beyond flogging the future of “space tourism” the main goal of SpaceX’s Inspiration4 […]

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Vest Size Fundraising

If you fundraise with merchandise – a vest for example – you have lots of sizes and you let the donor pick the size.  You get lots of complaints about sizing after the fact. The size matters and one size definitely doesn’t fit all.  Why does the fundraising that markets the premium fly in the […]

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The Revolution Should Be Tested

My inbox occasionally delivers a gem that’s just right for a timely post. Today, a longtime Agitator reader passed one along I can’t resist sharing.  It starts off… MEMORANDUM To:  High-Level Direct Marketers Who Are Political Conservatives (if this is not you, please do a friend a favor and pass it on). FROM: Richard A. […]

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