The 80/20 Rule

Feb 27, 2023

You’ll be successful if you faithfully do the best you can with what you have

The 80/20 rule says that you can do 80% of the work in 20% of the time.

The same is true when it comes to fundraising and your donors.

Fundraising isn’t an exact science but…

80% of your donors will contribute 20% of your income

Another 15% of your donors will contribute another 30% of your income.

So that means 50% of your income comes from just 5% of your donors!

See why it important to keep, and work hard to grow, your database of supporters?

One more important thing you must know about that 5% who donate 50% of your income.  Most of them will have been on your database for quite some time and they started off as part of your 80% of smaller givers.

So treat everyone with care and respect – just like Jesus commanded.The 80 20 Rule

Record Your Donor Details

Here is a simple Excel spreadsheet for recording your donor details.

Download

Read a little more on CRM systems.

CRM Software

There are literally hundreds of  options for a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system for your ministry. There are some free options but usually they are limited to a short time or a small number of records.

One truly Free option worth exploring is TNTConnect

 As CRM software is a rapidly changing field you are probably best to do your own search.

More Fundriasing Tips here…

Make Friends

Want to successfully raise funds for your ministry?  Then look after your people! 'Funds come from friends" is a phrase we picked up a long time ago...

read more

Fundraising Leaders

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:  “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”  Now he who...

What your donor wants

So you've planned and made your appeal to your donors. Some of them have responded and your appeal target has been met.  Great, job done! Time to celebrate! Well actually, no. Probably the most important part is still waiting for you. What am I talking about?  It's...

Why People Don’t Support Your Organisation

by Jeff Brooks - Future Fundraising Now This might seem obvious, but so much fundraising just misses the point: people donate to nonprofits to help people. They don’t donate to support nonprofits. Fundraising that misses that point is not effective. That’s the point...

To Get Better at What You Do…

Invest your time wisely. When it comes to the way we eat, we don’t sit down on the first day of the month and eat the entire month’s food in one sitting.  No, we have a little bite often – usually 3 meals a day with an extra coffee or two and perhaps a snack thrown...

Its actually an Offer!

In an earlier post I said that when it comes to fundraising… You gotta Ask! And that it is a 3-step process. Ask Thank Report I then said that Asking shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable because… You are only inviting people to do something you already do yourself....

Plan the Work, Work the Plan

"if you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there" Unfortunately many fundraisers, for whatever reason, don't set any goals or targets. Which is a real shame because goals don't have to be hugely complicated - especially not to start with. And if...

Demonstrate Generosity

Did you know that one way your radio ministry can raise funds, is by being generous! Now that doesn’t make sense… or does it? Let me explain how you can demonstrate generosity like this… Vision Christian Radio runs two on air fundraisers for its own ministry each...

Finding New Board Members

Recently the Non Profit Times published the following helpful advice on their website regarding where to look for new Board members.  You can read it for yourself at  www.thenonprofittimes.com The Plan To Replace Board Members “The first step is to consider to whom...

Don’t be Boring

The first lesson on not being boring is that you need to look at what you're saying from the point of view of the reader or listener. Because you've invested your time and your effort in the project saying "We've just put on a new station in Nameavillage" will excite...

Thank you – two small words with huge impact.

In a recent email Tom Ahern referred to Thanking Donors as the “Secret Sauce” for your fundraising efforts.  He went on to talk about the importance of thanking sincerely and thanking fast. In fact there is evidence that if you personally thank a first time donor...

Its actually an Offer!

In an earlier post I said that when it comes to fundraising… You gotta Ask! And that it is a 3-step process. Ask Thank Report I then said that Asking shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable because… You are only inviting people to do something you already do yourself....

You gotta Ask!

Ok, that’s out in the open. 😊 If you want to get donations for your ministry, you have to ask. I’ll come back to this in just a mo, but first it is important to remember that the Ask is only Step 1 in a 3-step process. Step 1 – Ask Step 2 – Thank Step 3 – Report You...

Thank you – two small words with huge impact.

In a recent email Tom Ahern referred to Thanking Donors as the “Secret Sauce” for your fundraising efforts.  He went on to talk about the importance of thanking sincerely and thanking fast. In fact there is evidence that if you personally thank a first time donor...

Adding Drama to your Stories

I recently read an email talking about the need for fundraisers to have a ‘flair for drama’ in their story telling. It is true: “I was struggling and now God has blessed me” is not an exciting and impactful story. You need to apply good writing (or interviewing)...

Gardening

Before you get to enjoy your harvest of fruit and vegetables you first prepare the soil, then you plant seeds. But that’s not all, you have to make sure you tend and water often, otherwise the young plants will wither and die. If you want to harvest fruit and...

How are your fundraising plans coming along for this year? 

The other day I read the following on www.futurefundraisingnow.com and thought it worth sharing as it applies to our letters, emails, on air appeals, and face to face communication. 4 Game-Changing hints for Powerful Fundraising Remember to talk to your donors, NOT at...

Vision, Mission and Your team

The 2021 Australian National Church Life Survey asked church attenders whether their church had a clear vision, goals or direction for its ministry and mission, and if they were committed to that vision. 68% of church attenders said they are aware of their local...

Make Friends

Want to successfully raise funds for your ministry?  Then look after your people! 'Funds come from friends" is a phrase we picked up a long time ago from Bob Gass (author of The Word for Today) and there is a lot of truth to this. Friendship is built over time, and...

Do the best you can with what you have

As a leader you're always under pressure. Meeting the budget Keeping your ministry going forward Looking after your team Meeting Board and legal requirements Growing your ministry And then there is you own Spiritual and family life. The Good News is: God is with you!...

Why People Don’t Support Your Organisation

by Jeff Brooks - Future Fundraising Now This might seem obvious, but so much fundraising just misses the point: people donate to nonprofits to help people. They don’t donate to support nonprofits. Fundraising that misses that point is not effective. That’s the point...

To Get Better at What You Do…

Invest your time wisely. When it comes to the way we eat, we don’t sit down on the first day of the month and eat the entire month’s food in one sitting.  No, we have a little bite often – usually 3 meals a day with an extra coffee or two and perhaps a snack thrown...

Demonstrate Generosity

Did you know that one way your radio ministry can raise funds, is by being generous! Now that doesn’t make sense… or does it? Let me explain how you can demonstrate generosity like this… Vision Christian Radio runs two on air fundraisers for its own ministry each...

Fundraising Leaders

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:  “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”  Now he who...

Changes in Africa – Brenda Uwubuntu

Watch this great video from Brenda Uwubuntu that was recently shown at the CMAA Conference 2022 - Truth Goodness Beauty. Brenda shares about the change that she is seeing in Africa's Media ministries and supporters as well as some amazing things that God is doing in...

You gotta Ask!

Ok, that’s out in the open. 😊 If you want to get donations for your ministry, you have to ask. I’ll come back to this in just a mo, but first it is important to remember that the Ask is only Step 1 in a 3-step process. Step 1 – Ask Step 2 – Thank Step 3 – Report You...

Surveys and Opinions

Surveys and asking people for their opinion can be a helpful tool but they can also be very misleading.  Especially when it comes to fundraising. First off, understand that your donors really want to give you truthful and helpful answers to your questions. After all,...

Plan the Work, Work the Plan

"if you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there" Unfortunately many fundraisers, for whatever reason, don't set any goals or targets. Which is a real shame because goals don't have to be hugely complicated - especially not to start with. And if...

Why Record Donor Details?

Did you know that it costs more, and you have to work a lot harder, to get a first donation from someone than it is to get their second or third or 27th donation from them? That is why there is so much emphasis put on what fundraisers call ‘Donor Retention’. So the...

Value Small Gifts

Something from Bob Gass that applies 100% to Fundraising Don’t belittle your gift ‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.’ Ephesians 3:20 Next time you see a big oak tree, remind yourself that it began as a tiny acorn. What...

Vision, Mission and Your team

The 2021 Australian National Church Life Survey asked church attenders whether their church had a clear vision, goals or direction for its ministry and mission, and if they were committed to that vision. 68% of church attenders said they are aware of their local...