Comments on: Donor Insights From Fenton Communications http://www.theagitator.net/hot-research/donor-insights-from-fenton-communications/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=donor-insights-from-fenton-communications Fundraising and advocacy strategies. Trends, tips ... with an edge Thu, 24 May 2012 10:56:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kate Mathews http://www.theagitator.net/hot-research/donor-insights-from-fenton-communications/comment-page-1/#comment-25752 Kate Mathews Fri, 21 May 2010 15:53:39 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1433#comment-25752 Amen to Rich Anderson's comment! Too many organizations now confuse a website with PR, believing that through search optimization, "friending" on facebook, and other technical tools, having a website can get you in front of the "right" people -- a foundation, a government funding agency, your donors. But what gets them to the web? If you look at nonprofits who've been around awhile, almost all of them built their donor bases at a time when a certain issue was THE issue in the news and politically -- when their organization's mission embodied societal or political goals. When economics affected lifestyle and elevated certain concerns to top of mind. And PR -- radio, TV, newspaper, magazine coverage ubiquitously reflected and reported on those concerns. That was the rise of the star system of celebrities and reporting. We know this as marketers for non-profits. But try selling PR to a board glamored by the potential of the internet and social media, with the costs involved. Sigh. Oh -- and one point about this study. Look at the issues listed as top of mind -- now think about what is in the news today. The list has shifted dramatically. What jumped out at me was the violence against women issue, given the coverage on national rape laws. That is the power of PR. Amen to Rich Anderson’s comment! Too many organizations now confuse a website with PR, believing that through search optimization, “friending” on facebook, and other technical tools, having a website can get you in front of the “right” people — a foundation, a government funding agency, your donors. But what gets them to the web? If you look at nonprofits who’ve been around awhile, almost all of them built their donor bases at a time when a certain issue was THE issue in the news and politically — when their organization’s mission embodied societal or political goals. When economics affected lifestyle and elevated certain concerns to top of mind. And PR — radio, TV, newspaper, magazine coverage ubiquitously reflected and reported on those concerns. That was the rise of the star system of celebrities and reporting. We know this as marketers for non-profits. But try selling PR to a board glamored by the potential of the internet and social media, with the costs involved. Sigh. Oh — and one point about this study. Look at the issues listed as top of mind — now think about what is in the news today. The list has shifted dramatically. What jumped out at me was the violence against women issue, given the coverage on national rape laws. That is the power of PR.

]]> By: Rich Anderson http://www.theagitator.net/hot-research/donor-insights-from-fenton-communications/comment-page-1/#comment-25749 Rich Anderson Fri, 21 May 2010 13:39:53 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1433#comment-25749 Tom -- thanks for sharing this research. The first point I'd make is that I'm not terribly surprised by the list of "most credible sources of information." My sense is that most people look to see unbiased or unaffiliated coverage of an issue versus a nonprofit's naturally biased communications, regardless of the channel. That then leads to the second point I'd make -- that nonprofits need to invest in PR efforts so that their own communications are being reinforced in the media. Tom — thanks for sharing this research. The first point I’d make is that I’m not terribly surprised by the list of “most credible sources of information.” My sense is that most people look to see unbiased or unaffiliated coverage of an issue versus a nonprofit’s naturally biased communications, regardless of the channel. That then leads to the second point I’d make — that nonprofits need to invest in PR efforts so that their own communications are being reinforced in the media.

]]> By: Brock Warner http://www.theagitator.net/hot-research/donor-insights-from-fenton-communications/comment-page-1/#comment-25748 Brock Warner Fri, 21 May 2010 13:16:04 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1433#comment-25748 Another really interesting stat in the article is that 20% of donors under 35 believe the performance of charities is only average, while only 12% of the over 50 donors feel the same way. Lets hope that over the next 15 years we can pull a large amount of the under 35 donors in the right direction, towards the "excellent/good" side of the fence, instead of the latter. I love a challenge. Another really interesting stat in the article is that 20% of donors under 35 believe the performance of charities is only average, while only 12% of the over 50 donors feel the same way. Lets hope that over the next 15 years we can pull a large amount of the under 35 donors in the right direction, towards the “excellent/good” side of the fence, instead of the latter.

I love a challenge.

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