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Donor retention / loyalty / commitment

The Marble In Your Ashtray

Last Friday was drizzly, the kind where the rain isn’t sure of itself. I went for my pickup truck’s annual inspection.  In the corner of that musty garage, mechanics’ hands as greasy as the floor, there was the usual bulletin board; an artifact with layers of oil change reminders and lost dog flyers. Among this […]

Learn More April 22, 2024

The Barcode’s Birthday and Its Role in Fundraising World

In the Muzak -misted modern marketplaces, amidst the rhythmic beep of machines, lies a revolution so profound yet so quietly integrated into the fabric of our daily lives that it scarcely draws attention. This revolution, now marking its 50th anniversary, is none other than the barcode—that modest stripe of black and white that’s silently reshaped […]

Learn More February 9, 2024

Deceptive? Manipulative? Brilliant? Destructive? You Decide.

           The post-Labor Day tide of political email is on the rise and, if the past is prologue, will reach its high water mark a year from now then very slowly ebb  toward Election Day 2024.              This growing digital dog-pile, excreted by local, state and federal candidates and PACs, will […]

Learn More September 5, 2023

Why Would Anyone Add 13% To Their Donation Amount?

The DonorVoice Team ran a very cool, smart test with one of our agency of record clients, Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB).  I can be praiseworthy as I wasn’t directly involved (think that’s merely correlation…) Here were the guiding inputs. There are two separate, mental giving decisions Will I give, yes or no? If yes, […]

Learn More February 13, 2023

Trust in the Eye of the Beholder?

We do a lot of surveys.  Heck, I’ve got an advanced degree in Survey Methodology, whatever the hell that means. Surveys are ubiquitous it seems, especially in politics and public policy.  Your organization might do a survey for constituent understanding or for public release to advocate for this or that cause. What makes surveys trustworthy […]

Learn More September 9, 2022

If You Ain’t First You’re Last

One of the greatest movies of all time for those of us who enjoy parody, slapstick and juvenile humor is Will Ferrell’s Talladega Nights. He spends most of his life against an impossible standard of “if you ain’t first you’re last”, a motto from his father who was high on peyote at the time he […]

Learn More August 19, 2022

Everything is Impacting Everything

From real estate to the stock market, to energy, to technology, to politics to fundraising the Pandemic/Supply Chain/Ukraine/Inflation Virus is wreaking havoc. This is certainly the case where direct response –both direct mail and digital—is concerned. Massive shortages of envelopes and paper with prices going up and availability still down. Significant production delays and bottlenecks.  […]

Learn More June 27, 2022

How to Raise Money Without Asking for It

Ask for money, get money.  If only it were that simple.  The conversion rate with human beings on your donation form is under 20%.   That’s a lot of missing dollars from people needing something other than another ask to convert.  Enter the donor experience. [Calling all digital marketers, register for the free learning session on […]

Learn More June 22, 2022

You Are Your Music

You are your music.  More accurately, your music is you.  This is cool research from Spotify finding that your personality predicts your music choices.   Personality comes first, it’s mostly (not entirely) a born-with kind of thing. We all behave in ways that are trying to match our goals and values and orientation on the world. I […]

Learn More June 10, 2022

Think Locally, Act Locally

How do people think about and organize their giving?  Do people have a favorite charity or two for each sub-sector that matters to them?  The pie-chart of giving method? What about the stacked bar chart method where folks are single-issue oriented and give to 5-7 conservation charities, for example? I expect most readers would bet […]

Learn More May 27, 2022

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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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