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Breaking Out of the Status Quo

Try Dying for Giving Tuesday

Rather than featuring the horrifically over-used matching gift offer or the  ubiquitous “Give because it’s Giving Tuesday” non-motivational message, why not try a giving call-to-action that features something very much on donors’ minds these days? Death. At the outset of the pandemic, many organizations were nervous about their planned-giving communications, wary that they would appear insensitive. […]

Learn More November 15, 2021

“Only You Can Control Your Future.” [Navigation Chart for Fundraisers Enclosed]

The headline quotation is from the renowned fundraiser, Dr. Seuss. Well, even if he wasn’t a fundraiser Dr. Seuss’ advice is sound.  He’s not alone in warning about grabbing hold of and steering your organization’s destiny , as literally hundreds of Agitator  posts on the subject can attest. Enter the fascinating –and most helpful — […]

Learn More November 3, 2021

The Value of a Fundraiser

Almost every sector of the economy is now facing the issue of how many employees will actually return vs. how many will simply opt for greener pastures. If the financial meltdown of 2008 was the Great Recession, will almost-post-pandemic- 2021 turn out to be the Great Resignation. Virtually every part of the nonprofit sector – […]

Learn More June 16, 2021

Seize This Moment

The M+R 2021 Benchmark Study is now out.  And it’s a winner.  In fact, it carries news of lots of winners in the pandemic year of 2020. I hope you’ll read the entire report packed with charts and editorial insightful commentary covering digital advertising , email messaging, text messaging and peer to peer, email metrics, […]

Learn More May 19, 2021

Heeding The Patient Prediction of Steve MacLaughlin

For years Steve MacLaughlin, VP of Product  Management at Blackbaud and author of Data Driven Nonprofits has patiently predicted that online giving would  grow beyond 10% of total giving. 2020 was the year it finally happened. The detail of this online breakthrough –along with a treasure trove of other giving data – is reflected in […]

Learn More February 19, 2021

Time Sensitive Alert on Paycheck Protection Program 2.0

We just learned of this FREE webinar on the the new version of PPP taking place TODAY—Thursday at 4:00 p.m . Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. This is short notice, but if you register now, even though you can’t attend,  a recording and slides from the webinar will be e-mailed to you.  BUT ONLY IF […]

Learn More January 21, 2021

Importance of Donor Experience in the Pandemic

Back in November we recommended to readers the event, Fundraising In The Tine Of Covid hosted by the UK’s Chartered Institute of Fundraising and prepared by their Supporter Experience Special Interest Group which aims to inspire and persuade organizations to improve their donors’ experience. Apparently, the event was a rousing success.  In fact, our friend Giles […]

Learn More January 13, 2021

Holiday Treats: More PPP. Latest FEP.

A couple of quick but quite important items.  Consider these your Agitator stocking stuffers. Key Benefits in Just-Passed Covid Relief Bill The 5600 page, $900 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress on Monday and likely ( or maybe not ) pto be signed by the President contains these key benefits for nonprofits. Another round of […]

Learn More December 23, 2020

Most Charitable Nations. Most Charitable States

Each day we’re deluged with the updated stats on disease and death from the Coronavirus pandemic.  So, for a change of pace we thought it would be a relief to flip to some stats of a more uplifting variety The World Giving Index published by the Charities Aid Foundation , reports that for 2019 the […]

Learn More November 23, 2020

Compassion is Spreading as Fast as The Virus. Or is it?

The winter surge of the coronavirus pandemic and consequent lockdowns are upon us–as is the Fundraising Pandemic Paradox. On the one hand countless boards, CEOs continue to expect nonprofits to do badly and therefore have cut budgets and staff.  On the other hand, many organizations are now doing much better than ever giving the lie […]

Learn More November 13, 2020

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Ask A Behavioral Scientist

    Behavioral Science Q & A

    Q: As a designer who works with non-profits on fundraising strategy, I see the language like the following: “Our supporters help empower every girl, ensuring she has the resources she needs.” I do not think the word “help” is useful–I think “Our supporters empower every girl, ensuring she has the resources she needs. ” is much more engaging. Thoughts?

    Whether “help” is more engaging or not really depends on the framing and context. The word help can sometimes weaken the perceived agency of the supporter, making their role feel secondary rather than central (your point). On the other hand, help can also signal collaboration rather than implying full ownership of the outcome, which might […]

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    Q: We started offering a donor cover option last april 1. The data to date suggests this may be dampening giving.eg. those who say yes to donor cover have a lower average gift (based on analysis of 6000+ gifts). I’m wondering if those who give lower gifts feel more guilt and therefore say yes to donor cover or if the presence of donor cover is making people adjust (lower) their gift size to accommodate the extra 3%. Would love any insights you have.

    Great question! Here’s how behavioral science can help unpack what might be happening: Pain of Paying: Even a small extra charge can make giving feel more transactional than emotional, potentially reducing generosity. Fairness Concerns: Some donors might perceive donor cover as a surcharge rather than a contribution to the cause. If they feel the charity […]

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    Q: When writing an appeal, I waffle back and forth between writing “Your gift CAN…” or “Your gift WILL…” Any studies of which of these two words is best for an appeal?

    The choice between “Your gift CAN…” and “Your gift WILL…” taps into the psychological framing of certainty vs. possibility. Currently, there is no academic research directly comparing these two framings in charitable appeals. However, I suspect no framing is universally better—the outcome likely depends on your target audience and the campaign’s goal. Here are some thoughts: Certainty Framing – […]

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    Q: Do you have any insight on whether integrating an individual giving appeal with other comms from the charity in both appearance and messaging can uplift results? Or does the actual appeal become ‘lost’ for lack of stand-out?

    Integrating an individual giving appeal with other communications from a charity can have both positive and negative effects, and the outcome largely depends on how it’s executed. Advantages of Integration Brand Consistency: Maintaining a consistent appearance and messaging across all communications can reinforce the org’s brand identity and strengthen brand recognition and trust among your […]

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    Q: Is there any research on response rate impact in direct mail when referring to a sustainer gift as ongoing or recurring (catching all frequencies) v. monthly or annual?

    I’m not aware of any in-market tests specifically comparing recurring vs. gift frequency language. I suspect the answer might not be the same with all gift frequencies, nor with all people. It sounds like a great opportunity for you to test and find out what works for your audience. Based on the literature, here’s a couple […]

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    Q: A major conservation nonprofit sends me lots of mail, many of which have on the envelope “time to renew” or “2nd notice.” I find this practice deceptive, especially as I haven’t given to said organization since 1997. It must be effective or they wouldn’t do it. But is it ethical?

    Based on what we know from existing data, those renewal notices can actually be pretty effective in getting people to donate. They tap into our psychology – creating a sense of urgency, reminding us of past support, and using personalization to make the message hit home. They’re playing on our natural tendencies to feel obligated […]

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