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The Force Awakens?

theater image I’ll be darned.

Direct mail acquisition seems to be making a comeback.

OK, perhaps not to the degree of a Star Wars $250MM opening weekend comeback. But as I am reviewing recent acquisition (and reactivation of deeply lapsed donors) results, I was pleasantly surprised to see that new donor (and reactivated donor) counts aren’t falling.

Even better news is that retention of Second Year donors are improving for the first time since Mark Hamill’s last film any of us can recall seeing (which any fan would know is the 1978 film Corvette Summer).

The question is whether this comeback will last, or is it a momentary pause in direct mail’s inevitable demise?

Part V: Why Algorithm Bias Matters

by Bill Jacobs | Jul 1, 2025

First, what is algorithm bias? Algorithmic bias happens when the data, assumptions, or methodology that drive an algorithm lead to discriminatory responses. It can result in several ways, including racial, gender, socioeconomic, or geographical biases. Algorithms are...

Part IV: The Complexities of Implementation

by Bill Jacobs | Jun 25, 2025

This is our fourth blog on some things the nonprofit community should be thinking about regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). Adopting new technologies is rarely straight forward. For example, remember your last CRM upgrade? How did that go? If you are like most...

Part III: Data Privacy Concerns (Why We Should Be Cautious About Using AI)

by Bill Jacobs | Jun 23, 2025

I’ll come right out and say it: Protecting our clients’ data privacy is my biggest concern about using AI. Nonprofits keep a lot of sensitive data: Donor information: Names, addresses, email contacts, and financial contributions. Beneficiary details: Personal and...