The Agitator

Roger has been systematically working us through the "who, what, when, why, where" of nonprofit fundraising fundamentals … with only "where" yet to go (coming next week).

I hesitate to interrupt the flow, but we received a response from Fraser Green at FLA Group that provides a useful bridge between the tactics of targeting (who) and timing (when), and the crucial necessity of  effective messaging (what) that Roger emphasized a couple of days ago.

Here’s Fraser’s article — Check for Purple Cow Before Joining Online Herd — from  Canadian Fundraisng & Philanthropy (see p2). This brief excerpt will give you a flavor.

"The online experts can put messages out in all the digital formats available — but the charity needs to provide compelling content … in today’s world, you’re either remarkable or you’re boring."

My sense is that the fundamentals of effective messaging are even more absent in online media than in direct mail … a view our Agitator audience might dispute.

However, neither Roger nor I would pose the issue quite as a competition between tactics  and messaging, as Fraser does.

Yes, there can be plenty of over-indulgence in the "next BIG thing" ("technique frenzy" as Fraser calls it), and the planners/analysts and the creatives can argue over who makes the most  significant contribution to fundraising success … but  at the end of the day, it all must be knitted together.

I suspect that’s what Roger will be talking about next week.

Tom