Here is a list of seven things you should avoid throughout the donor-cultivation process.

1. Thinking one size fits all—sending generic gifts, invitations, and mailings to all donors; keeping the relationship generic and at arm's length; fearing getting personal.
   
   
2. Confusing donor recognition with donor cultivation—thinking that gifts and trinkets will deepen a donor's relationship with your organization.
   
   
3. Forgetting that you must have at least two personal contacts with each Multiple-Year Giving Society^™ Donor every year.
   
   
4. Wasting precious time on generic cultivation instead of picking up the phone and having a real give-and-take conversation—forgetting that a phone call qualifies as a personal contact in the Benevon Model.
   
   
5. Forgetting that if the donor does not have an opportunity to reply and give feedback, it is not a personal contact—each cultivation contact must be a dialog.
   
   
6. Forgetting that a personal e-mail can count as a contact because it does allow for an immediate response.
   
   
7. Rushing the process or going too slowly—timing the process to your own convenience instead of to the donor's pace.