The Agitator

Why do they do this to me? I've waxed eloquent over the marvelous campaign to enhance teenage girls' self-esteem — spearheaded by the viral video smash hits Onslaught and Evolution — sponsored by Dove, the soap people. But now it's pointed out that Unilever, the parent ...  Read more

Attention major gift fundraisers!! Next time you're about to pop the question to a prospect (the fundraising ask, that is), squirt a dose of oxytocin up their nose. You might get two-and-a half times the gift amount that you otherwise would have! Now exactly how you get the relationship to ...  Read more

Do you really serious about raising more money online? Or capturing more activists or leads? Or selling more merchandise? Then run out (i.e., go online) and buy Marketing Sherpa's new Landing Page Handbook. Here's where. I don't know anyone who collects more hard data on marketing ...  Read more

In case you missed it during the pre-Thanksgiving crush, here's a superb report (free link) on nonprofits' use of online video by Peter Panepeto of the Chronicle of Philanthropy (Nov 15). Peter provides examples, with links to the videos, from the American Jewish World Service, Veterans ...  Read more

A recent study sponsored by American Express said that online and offline donations were generally the same size. In this memorandum, Guest Agitators Nick Allen of Donordigital and Rob Harris of Target Analysis Group take exception. They argue that the hard data based on actual giving across a ...  Read more

Writing as a guest on the Tactical Philanthropy blog this week, Michael Soper, formerly SVP of Development at PBS and WETA, has written the article I've just never gotten around to writing. The title tells it all: Strong Marketing of a Weak Success Measure: Charity Navigator Vital Mission ...  Read more

Here's a report on top brands as researched by marketing consultancy Brand Keys. #1 on the list is Google; #2 is Yahoo. Catalog-driven companies do well, led by L.L.Bean at #4 and J. Crew at #6 (Sears, Eddie Bauer and Land's End were in the top 25). The report cited above mentions ...  Read more

Just like the title says, here are five useful tips on online fundraising from avowed direct mail dinosaur Karen Taggart at care2. Read the details here. 1. Segment your file. 2. Incorporate variable ask strings. 3. Code, code, and code some more. 4. Analyze your returns at the end of a series ...  Read more

Here's a great, succinct list of tips for making effective stand-up presentations. From Chris Brogan, a blogger on social media & networking. Tom SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Stand And Deliver", url: "http://www.theagitator.net/communications/stand-and-deliver/" }) ...  Read more

Todd Cohen at Philanthropy Journal reports here on Nonprofit Awareness Month, a collective effort in North Carolina to foster awareness of the role nonprofits play in the state and to encourage volunteerism and giving. Something nonprofits in other states might want to try. Roger & Tom ...  Read more