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Cause-Marketing On Social Nets
We’ve been talking lately about using social nets like Facebook and MySpace as “enablers” that can equip a nonprofit’s strongest supporters – your missionaries – to help fundraise for your cause. In this instance, your nonprofit would be reaching out to its most committed supporters online and asking for help. The approach is grounded upon […]
More Caution Re Online Social Nets
Yesterday I suggested that fundraisers not go overboard with the resources you devote at this stage to social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn. Here is some more caution. As reported by Mediapost, a recent study by market research firm IDG found that members of social networks tended to click on ads less than […]
Donor Acquisition In A Recession
Awhile back, reporting on results from our Vital Signs survey on fundraisers’ assessment of their near-term fundraising prospects, I expressed surprise that a handful of respondents indicated they would be increasing their new donor acquisition efforts in 2009. What I expected was that most fundraisers would face terrific pressure, based on falling returns and management […]
Fundraising Resolution # 1
Over the holidays I slogged through a river of prognostications flowing into 2009. Of course virtually everyone agrees that 2009 will be anything but normal. With what will probably be the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression many fundraisers and nonprofit leaders face the double whammy of rising demand for services and declining […]
Another Fundraising Success Secret for 2009
We don’t share our fundraising success secrets with just everyone. But in the Christmas spirit, here’s one from The Agitator backlist we hope you’ll enjoy. Happy Holidays! Fundraiser Refuses To Change Underwear Following the example of tennis sensation Rafael Nadal, a leading nonprofit fundraiser is refusing to change his garb while he’s on a fundraising […]
Recession Fundraising – What Your Colleagues Are Doing
We’ve just completed the third in our series of surveys to fundraisers who joined our Vital Signs Panel. The most important question we asked was: "As you adjust your fundraising plans for 2009, what are the three most important strategic changes or emphases you’re likely to make?" It was an opened-ended question. Rather than try […]
Weekend Edition: Fundraising Warning Bells
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 17th. On down days Grandma Craver attempted to brighten life with the reminder. “Cheer up, Roger. Things could be worse.” Well, this week they got worse, at least where the economy and fundraising is concerned. The warning bells of impending fundraising doom are sounding with more and more frequency and volume. Increasing […]
Fundraising Vital Signs – Response Update
We have now completed two cycles of our Fundraising Vital Signs surveys, in which we ask readers of The Agitator to share their prognostications regarding the fundraising outlook for the balance of 2008 (see Survey 1 results here). Our overall response profile remains the same: three-of-four respondents work in a nonprofit organization; the other respondents […]
Online Spending Growth Slows
As reported in this Ad Age article, consumer spending online is slowing this year-end, reflecting the overall economic downturn. Perhaps there are warning signs here for online fundraising. Forrester Research says the rate of growth in online sales for November and December over the previous year’s Christmas season will be 12%, compared to 20% a […]
About us
Roger Craver, Co-Editor, The Agitator When I switched from being a major gifts and capital campaign fundraiser in favor of the path of direct response my colleagues thought I had gone mad. They simply couldn’t imagine why any serious fundraiser would resort to anything less than face-to-face contact with donors and prospects. That was 45 […]