Award Winning Blog - Agitator

4 Cognitive Bias Myths

One restaurant is half full, the other empty, which one would you choose? To help us reach a decision faster we use mental shortcuts (known as “cognitive biases”). In this case we’re likely to judge the quality of the restaurant (food, service, ambiance etc.) simply by the number of customers we see dining there. Biases lead to […]

Learn More March 22, 2021

Using Cost of Fundraising to Turn Lead into Gold

Like anxious parents approaching their kid with the inevitable discussion about sex, many boards, CEOs and even some fundraisers dread talking to donors about fundraising costs. Over the years, especially in times of scandal, we’ve written literally dozens of posts on how to talk to donors about fundraising costs. Our bottom-line advice: “Don’t be one […]

Learn More March 19, 2021

Beware of Junk Science

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is the most popular personality test in the world. Fortune 100 love it. Government agencies love it. More than 1.5 million people take it every year. Our only issue with it as social scientists is this: It’s absolute garbage. Otherwise, we too love it. It fails on two fundamental requirements. Not […]

Learn More March 17, 2021

Subjective or Objective Knowledge?

Donors will only give and keep giving if they feel competent. In short, “If I don’t understand your cause or how you fix problems I won’t give.” But what matters more? The donor’s objective knowledge of your cause and how you fix problems, or the donor’s subjective knowledge? Charities often try to explain and give […]

Learn More March 15, 2021

Does Giving Beget More Giving?

“Your best future donors are your best past donors.” Circular logic if there ever was. Let’s dig in a bit deeper. If you donated at 2pm today and got another solicitation at 1 minute past 2pm, would you give again? What about 2pm tomorrow? A week later, a month? Probably all of us have some […]

Learn More March 12, 2021

Stick It To Them

Folks love stickers. And buttons. And decals. And bumper stickers. Seems like every movement moment has a symbol. From voting to vaccination, seals to save the manatee, the badges of civic pride and involvement are worn proudly, as are the more ideological varieties proclaiming their owner’s commitment to this cause or that movement. With “I’ve […]

Learn More March 10, 2021