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Fundraising philosophy/profession

URGENT ACTION REQUEST: Jailed in Dubai for Helping Children

A British-Australian dual national living in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates city that bills itself as a “friendly holiday resort”,  has been detained for weeks because he tried to raise money for Afghan child refugees using his Facebook page. Scott Richards, a volunteer fundraiser, has been charged by Dubai authorities for “fundraising without permission”.  He […]

Learn More August 23, 2016

And Don’t Miss These ‘Top Ten’ …

At the end of each quarter our friends over at the crowdblog 101Fundraising list their 10 posts that received the highest readership according to Google Analytics. Here’s 101’s listing for the 2nd Quarter.  Something here for everyone.  Read on! Roger 1.  Three Powerful Major Gift Questions You Might Not Be Asking – Karen Osborne 2.  How to […]

Learn More August 18, 2016

The WikiLeaks Warning for Fundraisers

In the P.S. to his post Big Can Be Beautiful Too, Tom, commenting on readers’ remarks notes, “I thought the key takeaway was about organizational culture — it starts at the top and, irrespective of the size of the organization, can be stifling or inspiring.” Nothing more aptly illustrates this than the release last week […]

Learn More August 2, 2016

Pokémon Go for Fundraisers

OK, Tom, we’re gonna have to give up Candy Crush and jump into Pokémon Go. “What’s that?”, you say. It’s the latest social media frenzy — a free game app that works on smart phones — that’s been downloaded close to 10 million times in the U.S. alone and has folks of all ages out […]

Learn More July 18, 2016

Need: Milk And Eggs

I just read a fascinating article from Nielsen about impulse shopping. As it happens, fresh produce, coffee, milk and eggs are the needs (i.e., products) most likely to drive consumers to a store. Indeed, consumers buy fresh produce and milk in 40% of all trips to the store. In the non-food space, prescription medications and pet […]

Learn More May 26, 2016

Who Gets Fired?

I’m continually amazed so many organizations ignore feedback from their donors. Feedback that would enable them to improve retention rates and lifetime value. They simply hit the ‘mute’ button. How stupid can you get? Despite the fact that it’s so much easier to measure how digital things are being used, I doubt that even 1 […]

Learn More May 2, 2016

My Friday Fermentation

On Fridays some folks unwind with mates at the pub … others flee for an airport to get home in time to see the kids … others make that list of  weekend chores. Here at The Agitator we’re all business of course. Tom ends his week by feeding Priscilla, his piggy bank (otherwise known as the […]

Learn More April 29, 2016

New Digital Fundraising Benchmarks

The latest M+R Benchmarks Study was released yesterday, providing a valuable look at trends in the digital fundraising arena. The study is based on an impressive range of 105 participating organizations in eight sectors — mostly large nonprofits like Oxfam America, Planned Parenthood Federation and Humane Society of the US, but including smaller regional/local groups like […]

Learn More April 21, 2016

The Donor And The CIO

Thanks to NonProfit Pro, I was pointed to an article in CIO describing the efforts of the American Cancer Society to develop a 360-degree view of its supporting individuals, be they relay-fundraisers, donors, caregivers and/or survivors. The ‘and/or’ goes to the nub of the matter, as individuals relate to ACS in a variety of capacities […]

Learn More March 21, 2016

Swiss Army Knife for Online Fundraisers

Here’s a healthy, helpful and constructive way to spend part of your weekend. M+R, the online fundraising, campaigning and marketing firm, is offering up a terrific online resource called the Toolshed where you can spend productive time while avoiding weekend chores. Assuming, like some editors of The Agitator, you’re into household chore avoidance, why not […]

Learn More March 11, 2016

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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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