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Senate Candidates & the Internet

The Bivings Group, an Internet consulting firm, reports that 96% of 2006 Senate candidates have campaign websites, 23% have blogs, 15% have Spanish-language content, and 5% have podcasts. Read full report.

Learn More May 29, 2006

Online $$ is Tip of Iceberg

The true $$ potential of email-acquired names is only captured through integrated marketing campaigns, where online solicitation is complemented by direct mail and telemarketing. These “complementary” channels often return more dollars than the online channel used to identify and enlist prospective donor/activists in the first place. If you're not moving in this direction, you oughta […]

Learn More May 24, 2006

Mi Gente: The Power of Latinos

Thanks to PoliticsOnline.com I've just learned of a hot Latino website, Mi Gente. Definitely worth checking out if your organization is interested in reaching Latinos. Here's what PoliticsOnline says about the site: MiGente.com Harnesses Latino Power The largest U.S. Web site geared towards Latinos just got better. This week, Community Connect upgraded its social networking […]

Learn More May 22, 2006

Amnesty Scores with Online Acquisition

Some interesting online acquisition data from Amnesty International, as reported by Nick Allen of Donor Digital. His example confirms what we've seen elsewhere … significantly higher average gifts from online donors can more than offset higher acquisition costs. And notice the admirable extent of testing in this campaign. If you want to dig deeper into […]

Learn More May 10, 2006

Online Advice for Non-profits

Latest e-newsletter from Non-Profit Advisors discusses six ways the Internet is most impacting non-profits. Some of this won't be news to the most I-experienced of you. Still, some useful food for thought.

Learn More May 9, 2006

Great Global Warming Ad

TV PSA from Environmental Defense. Pretty effective, I think. Yes/No?

Learn More May 7, 2006

“Fundraising” or “Marketing”?

Should we be talking about “fundraising” or “marketing?” Roger's a fundraiser — a master organizational strategist, he's no head-in-the-weeds guy. Still, he wants to know what your organization is doing today that might inspire the most contributions now from your current donors and their most likely clones. I'm a marketer — I want to know […]

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The Blogosphere Multiplies

Technorati counts 1.2 million new posts to blogs each day! I’ll bet the same non-profits that whine most about “aging files” will be the last to explore what blogging and other forms of social networking might mean to their future viability. Here’s the most comprehensive look at blogging data I’ve seen. For interesting companion analysis […]

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Are You a Believer?

Want the latest in commercial online marketing & promotion tactics & campaigns? Here's where I look. But then I'm a believer in the notion that commercial marketing has lessons for non-profit marketing. Are you?

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Pew Internet Project on Internet Penetration

Here's the latest (April 2006) from Pew Internet Project on internet penetration. Fully 73% of American adults are internet users; 42% of Americans have broadband access. That's 84 million folks.

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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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