The Nonprofit FAQ

What are the 10 'Immutable Laws of Fundraising'?
The Foundation Center has posted on its website "The Ten Immutable Laws of the (Fundraising) Universe" by Carl Richardson. For the complete text, see http://fdncenter.org/pnd/tsn/tsn.jhtml?id=47800041.

Carl Richardson writes: In my years of working with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, I've learned that the universe of fundraising can be described by certain "laws," much like the physical universe is described by certain provable statements. Tested by experience, observation, and results, these laws of fundraising determine to a large extent the success of our efforts. If your capital campaign has stalled, your funding proposals routinely go unfunded, or your board has stopped working effectively, the laws described below may point you toward a solution.

Here are those ten rules in a list:


  1. No group of individuals is waiting to give (also known as the Law of the Nonexistent They).
  2. Fundraising is a conversation between funded and funder.
  3. Effective fundraising is a result of telling your story.
  4. People give to people.
  5. Someone must ask for the money.
  6. An organization cannot thank a donor enough.
  7. Seek investments, not gifts.
  8. Donors are developed, not born.
  9. Fundraising out of desperation is futile.
  10. In the best of circumstances, people will do what they please (also known as the Law of Uncertainty).



Posted 11/6/03 -- PB