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Fundraising philosophy/profession

Essentials Of Innovation

As the year begins, most Agitator readers have made some plans for new approaches, new tactics, to try in the coming year … otherwise more grandly known as ‘innovations’. Seriously, I hope ‘innovation’ means more to fundraisers than testing new envelope teasers and email subject lines. Innovation is serious stuff, and often impeded by poor […]

Learn More January 12, 2016

A Better Or Worse World?

As I worked on last week’s post Making the Most of a Charged Political Climate I couldn’t help but wonder if the world has really become as cold, cruel and dangerous as many of the presidential candidates are claiming. Or, to put it another way, is the world really going to hell in a hand […]

Learn More January 11, 2016

2016 Fundraising ‘To Do’ List

Agitator readers have had a week now to recover from various holiday diversions and to count the bounty from all those year-end appeals. It’s time to get on with the business of 2016. And if you’re an organised sort, you’ll begin with a ‘To Do’ list … not just for next Monday, but for the year. […]

Learn More January 8, 2016

Making The Most Of A Charged Political Climate

Recent news of the fundraising results of Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign — $33 million in the last three months from a base of 2.2 million donors who give an average of $27 — got me thinking about the various problems and opportunities faced by vastly different types of organizations. I imagined some board member(s) somewhere in […]

Learn More January 7, 2016

Is It Time For You To Leave?

Celebrations are over. Back to reality. Yeah, everybody makes New Year’s resolutions. One way or another, we pledge to be better persons — trimmer, more giving, less judgmental, more fit, better parent or spouse or friend, more relaxed, more empathetic, maybe knock a few items off the bucket list. For the more committed of us, […]

Learn More January 5, 2016

Fundraising Evolution and Revolution

Let’s jump right to the pressing topic of fundraising evolution, perhaps even revolution, on this first Monday of 2016. You’ll recall that on New Year’s day Tom and I left you with the promise that we’d be devoting serious attention in 2016 to the types of changes in mindset and methods we believe are essential […]

Learn More January 4, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We join with our Circulation Manager in wishing you a Happy New Year accompanied by all our best wishes that your Resolutions make it through the next 365 days. Which brings us to last of The Agitator’s Top Ten for 2015. Yes, we’re carrying these last two into this first day of 2016 because we’re […]

Learn More January 1, 2016

Best Of The Agitator – 2015 – Innovation and Myth

There’s no question in our minds that the fundraising trade relies heavily on myth and is a bit light on innovation. Often the myths masquerade as ‘best practices’ and go empirically unchallenged for years and years. When challenged there is usually quite a dust up as folks move to defend those ‘best practices’ –even in […]

Learn More December 31, 2015

Best Of The Agitator – 2015 – Bold Losers And Winners

Here at The Agitator we place a high premium on guts and risk-taking. After all, solving the world’s problems requires a lot of both. Sometimes breaking the mold means swimming upstream against conventional wisdom. Sometimes it means bucking the conventional go-along-to-get along mindset that infects too much of the nonprofit world. Apparently our readers feel […]

Learn More December 30, 2015

Best Of The Agitator – 2015 – Trends and Predictions

Here’s our wrap-up of the most read and shared Agitator posts of 2015. From the resurgence of direct mail to a direct mail flop, with trends and predictions for the future of fundraising in between, the tastes of Agitator readers proved to be far-ranging. Arguably there are plenty of other posts just as good, but hey, […]

Learn More December 28, 2015

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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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    The Agitator Tool Box

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