The “Giving” in Thanksgiving
Here in the United States today we celebrate our annual blessings and give thanks. The Canadians got the jump on us a month ago. And we’re celebrating not a moment too soon.
With jobs shrinking, money and savings drying up, and with global economic horrors rising, it’s frankly a relief to have a moment to put all the worries in perspective and reflect on what we truly have. We have jobs, more than enough to eat, roofs over our heads. And while the doomsday headlines are troubling and shouldn’t be ignored, here at The Agitator we haven’t heard of any fundraisers who’ve had to change the route they drive to work or the life to which they’ve become accustomed.
Equally as commendable is that we haven’t come across a single fundraiser who’s ignoring the signs around her or him. That’s terrific, because many of us work in jobs where we can directly help the many who are suffering painfully from this economic turndown … and the millions more who are likely to be even more affected. Here in the States alone the number of people living below the federal poverty level will jump by millions — some estimates say 10 million or more. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based group, estimates that rising unemployment rates could see the number of poor in America reach 50 million. And just think how those numbers geometrically increase around the globe.
The good news is that, when it comes to helping each other, the human soul shines in times like these. Many agencies that help the neediest are reporting that giving is on an uptick. May that continue and increase. We fundraisers are blessed in times like these. Regardless of our day jobs we possess the skills and understanding to offer our help on a voluntary basis where in our communities it is most needed.
So today, while we put the ‘thanks’ in ‘Thanksgiving’, it’s also important to put the ‘giving’ there too. Each of us needs to do our part to help those who are suffering.
Counting our blessings,
Roger and Tom
Behavioral Science Q & A
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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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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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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Interesting question. I had a quick look at the testing done on this topic. On the positive side, in all cases, over half of donors decide to cover the fee. In some cases, it goes as high as 65%. Not a negligible percentage at all. Here’s another test from iRaiser showing consistent results (see point […]
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There’s just one thing to consider when designing a supporter journey: the supporter. More specifically, you need to take into account: Who the supporter is i.e. their identity, which is the reason they support this cause, and their personality, which describes the way they “see” and process the world. These will determine the kind of […]
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I’m not an expert in this but a quick search surfaced this article on the effect of tax reforms on 2019’s charitable giving. The researchers didn’t find a reduction. Actually, they observed an “increase in charitable contributions in 2019, even with the lower tax rates and the dramatically smaller number of taxpayers who itemize their […]
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