What’s Your Rule of Three?

I recently saw a LinkedIn post about the “Rule of Three.” It was the first time I’d heard the expression but it immediately became clear when the author offered this example:

Rule of Three for surviving in the wild: Shelter, Food, Water. 

The writer’s Rule of Three for fundraising: Authenticity, Invitation, Education.

It got me thinking about my own Rule of Three when it comes to development and donor communications.

Ultimately, I decided on these: Respect, Clarity, Opportunity.

Here’s what I mean:

1. Respect. Respect the donor’s time, intelligence, and preferred means of communication.

2. Clarity. Whether in writing or in person, don’t overstate the need, don’t use jargon, and don’t add needless words. Be transparent. If you’re to be respectful of a donor’s time, you must use that time wisely. Don’t make them work harder to understand what you want them to know.

3. Opportunity. Philanthropy is an opportunity for donors to invest in meaningful change, in whatever way is meaningful to them. To fully close the loop on that investment, you must share outcomes — the return on investment. That’s where the real opportunity lies. 

What’s the benefit of knowing your Rule of Three? I propose that it’s: Focus, Efficiency, and Values Alignment.

See what I did there?