Specific ways to make your fundraising donor-focused

Everyone talks about being donor-focused. Talk is cheap. If you want to reap the rewards of focusing on the donor, you have to actually do it.

Here are some ways to do that, from Fired-Up Fundraising, at How to Create a Donor-Centered Appeal Letter by Writing With Love:

• Avoid “org speak.” (Talk to the donor about what she can do, not about how amazing your organization is.)
  
• Skip the jargon.
  
• Keep your writing clear.
  
• Make it compelling. (Make it clear how much a difference she can make.)
  
• Keep your writing free of typos and grammatical errors.
  
• Get personal. (Really make it about the donor!)
  
• Be creative.
  

The secret of donor-focused fundraising is to connect with the donor’s heart and values. To show how your cause connects with her mission. It means no bragging, no “educating,” and no abstractions about your awesomeness.