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Advocacy Fundraising

Attacking Donors to Save Democracy

It’s increasingly clear that we’ll all soon be embroiled in a major battle we can’t avoid.  Truth vs. Lies.  Easy access to a fair vote vs. suppression and miscounting of the vote.  Authoritarianism vs. Democracy. The outcome answers the question, “Will American democracy die?” Currently the battle is playing out on a variety of fronts. […]

Learn More July 12, 2021

Simone Says: “Why?…Why?…Why?

Wonderful stories abound as memories of Simone Joyaux flow across Fundraising Land. Here at the Agitator we counting our “Simone Blessings” and also checking our archives.  We came across this post from a few years back that illustrates how Simone’s curiosity and constant questioning helped keep us all on our toes in an effort to her […]

Learn More May 5, 2021

Your Question for Earth Week

How much carbon is your organization’s website dumping into our atmosphere each year? Not a question you’re likely to encounter at the next board meeting.  But one we should all ponder – especially during this year’s Earth Week. Digital is physical and it sure ain’t green.  In fact, Digital costs the Earth.  Every time you […]

Learn More April 19, 2021

Revenge Giving

Among the many unconventional topics we’ve posted on– rage giving,  the Trump bump ( here, here and here among many), and have even dick pics and mince pie— today’s entry takes the prize. When Tommy Marcus, a 25-year-old University of Michigan graduate, learned that Rush Limbaugh had died, he recalled Limbaugh saying, “You know how […]

Learn More February 22, 2021

Your Donor Retention Lesson in 117 Seconds

At last! Houston fundraiser Evan Wildstein has creatively captured some key do’s and don’ts of donor care that’s taken taken us years, dozens of posts and pages of rants to convey. For this acoustic accomplishment we present Evan the last Agitator Raise of 2020  and recommend you follow his insights on Twitter @wildevanstein;  and also […]

Learn More December 28, 2020

Let Freedom Ring

The splendid and vile sides of America’s polarized politics were both on full display yesterday. As moving tributes to U.S. Representative John R. Lewis, the civil rights icon most closely associated with voting rights, were delivered at his funeral in Atlanta,  Donald Trump issued a contemptible and foreboding Tweet suggesting the U.S. “Delay the Election […]

Learn More July 31, 2020

On Stopping Hate for Profit

Just a week ago Mark Zuckerberg, who controls the social media sludge and sewage operation known as Facebook, held a call with advertisers where, according to The New York Times  he struck a “defiant tone” as “he discussed the importance of freedom of speech and stressed his company would not bow to pressure on its […]

Learn More July 3, 2020

American Renewal

One of the great advantages of older age is that experience seen in life’s rear-view mirror often provides a helpful understanding of what’s happening as seen through the front windshield of today. What I see today, while deeply disturbing in so many ways, gives me great hope.  This is especially true where citizen action and […]

Learn More June 5, 2020

Thank View Very Much

I’m certain all Agitator readers have been devoting their locked-down hours concentrating on donor experience and retention,  while far too many of those non-Agitator folks have been frittering away time perfecting their Netflix schedule. Consequently, as a reward for your diligence I want to introduce you to a powerful, easy-to-use tool that’s about as wonderful as […]

Learn More May 15, 2020

M+R 2020 Online Benchmarks Released

On April 23d, the day the Covid-19 death count reached 50,000 in the U.S.,  M+R published its 2020 Online Benchmarks. [ You can also find an online session M+R did with NTEN on the study here. ] Although the data were collected before the coronavirus outbreak and the massive tumult and tragedy that’s followed,  this […]

Learn More April 27, 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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