If you know me and this blog, you know that I talk about the Pareto Principle a lot. That’s the concept developed by Vilfredo Pareto in 1906 when he determined that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the people. He later found that 80% of the peas in his garden came from just 20% of his pea plants.
I bring this up so often because, if you are like most, 80% of your organization’s revenue comes from just 20% of your supporters. And, in many cases these days, that is becoming 90/10.
Here are some real world examples of the Pareto Principle you might find interesting:
- A 2002 report from Microsoft found that “80 percent of the errors and crashes in Windows and Office are caused by 20 percent of the entire pool of bugs detected.”
- 20% of the world’s population controls 82.7% of the world’s income
- 20% of patients use 80% of healthcare resources
Think about your life too. I bet you’ll recognize that:
- 20% of your co-workers create 80% of the problems in the office
- 20% of the fundraisers on staff are responsible for 80% of the organization’s revenue
- And, 20% of the carpet in your office gets used 80% of the time!
So, as this year comes to a close and you start planning for 2017, remember to consider the Pareto Principle. Then reach out to us because that’s just about all we do!
Related Posts:
>> Is Your Marketing Budget Properly Aligned With the 80/20 Rule?
>> Two Smart Ways to Acquire New Major Donors
>> Focus!
[…] of the World’s Population controls 82.7% of the world’s […]
[…] Acceptance of the Pareto Principle. This is also known as the 80/20 Rule. But when it comes to fundraising it’s more like the 90/10 […]