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Communications

Contrasting Web Strategies – Charity:Water

On Monday, I "reviewed"  aspects of the Habitat for Humanity website. I was looking mainly at three things: online fundraising appeals, use of online video, and use of social media. In these areas, I don’t regard Habitat as a pacesetter. That said, they might have precisely the right web approach for their constituency. Today, I’m […]

Learn More October 14, 2009

Boomers Not Keen On Social Media?

For some time I’ve subscribed to Jumpin Jack Flash, the e-newsletter of the Boomer Project, watching for insights on marketing to what we assume to be the next treasure trove of donors. Here is their take on Boomers and social media: "Let’s agree social networking is simply not as widely accepted among Boomers and older […]

Learn More October 13, 2009

Contrasting Web Strategies – Habitat for Humanity

To prepare for some discussions Roger and I will audiotape on social media, online fundraising, and 2010 fundraising strategies, I was browsing through some nonprofit websites. I was struck by the huge differences in web strategy that seemed indicated by the sites I visited. So I decided to write some posts with my observations on […]

Learn More October 12, 2009

Humane Society Has Friends

I promised myself that I was going to cut back on posting on social media. Believe me, I’m trying. But yesterday I said that, if I were a fundraiser at a nonprofit,  I’d bump social media higher on my priority list if/when I saw social media sites driving more traffic to my website than search […]

Learn More October 7, 2009

Sharing Is Sexy

Here’s a good NY Times article re the challenge of — and tools for — gettng other netizens to pass along your online content. For nonprofit fundraisers and cause advocates, there’s probably no breakthrough news here … we’ve all heard of viral marketing. Still, the piece is effective in presenting the challenge and its huge […]

Learn More October 6, 2009

Try Or Die!

Yesterday, with his Scrooge hat on, Tom offered his opinion and advice on how to approach the question of fitting social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) into the fundraising mix. Tom justified his parsimonious approach to investing in social media on the grounds that the “fundraising team’s job is to protect and nurture our existing donor […]

Learn More October 2, 2009

Want To Try Something New?

Yesterday we reported our Agitator survey results on current nonprofit fundraising priorities.  The survey was triggered by our desire to get a sense of how fundraisers planned to fit social media (Facebook etc) into their marketing mix over the next twelve months. We weren’t surprised by the results — major gift fundraising and and direct  […]

Learn More October 1, 2009

Your Fundraising Priorities

You’ll recall that we’ve raised the issue of where the use of social media fits into the overall fundraising priorities of nonprofits. We’ve now "closed" our online survey asking your opinions on the subject. Here are the responses to our three questions. First we asked about the overall fundraising mix … As a fundraiser in […]

Learn More September 30, 2009

Help Us Out, Please

Recently, The Agitator has done a string of posts on social media … perhaps more attention to this subject than we normally devote in a concentrated period. So we get these two comments (among others): From Jim : "I am not surprised that I have the first comment on today’s blog entry and it is […]

Learn More September 24, 2009

Unleashing Your Staff On Social Media

All of our postings to date regarding nonprofits’ use of social media have dealt with the possibilities of these platforms for empowering, engaging and "unleashing" your donors, members and activists. But there’s another side to this. What guidance should you give your staff for their use of social media — the ultimate individualistic, decentralized, "let […]

Learn More September 23, 2009

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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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