Easier Said Than Done: Three Laws of Fundraising Dynamics

• Watch donor behavior, and act accordingly. What donors give to, how often they give, when they give, how much they give. All these things are important pieces of information that you should use.
• Solicit donor choices. Periodically let donors take control of the relationship. Let them pick the media you use to reach them, the types of messages they prefer, what you may do with their names. Very few donors (well less than 10 percent in most cases) exercise any choice at all. But you’ll see a lift in performance from all those you share power with. Listening works!

The third law
This final law helps us understand how to avoid running afoul of the other two: The more people involved in creating, revising and polishing a fundraising message, the more complex and self-focused it will be. Or as grandma might have said, too many cooks spoil the broth.