Appeal Letter Tip?

Writing at a 6th grade level, argues this post from Future Fundraising Now, results in more donations.

Personally, I believe you should write letters in the normal way you write, be yourself, and share your passion about your work in the way that is most comfortable and congruent with who you are as the leader of an organization.

An excerpt from the post.

“1) Somebody has no doubt told you this: The best fundraising copy is not higher than the 6th grade reading ease level.

“2) Someone else has told you Our donors are highly educated, it would be a big mistake to talk down to them by writing at a low grade level.

“Statement #1 is correct. Statement #2 is wrong.

“The standard way reading ease is measured is the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, which applies a calculation to sentence length and number of three-syllable words to come up with a "grade level."

“Here's the important thing about reading grade levels: It's not about education. It's about ease of comprehension. Low grade level copy is not "talking down" to educated readers or treating them like children. Think of it instead as a form of courtesy, like enunciating clearly when you talk. The most super-educated PhD. will appreciate and respond to copy that's easy to read.”