Your director at Meta asks about Facebook Fundraisers: should we expand to more fundraising categories with basic features or improve existing categories with advanced features?

Introduction

The trade-off we're considering for Facebook Fundraisers is whether to expand to more fundraising categories with basic features or improve existing categories with advanced features. This decision involves balancing breadth versus depth in our product offering, which could significantly impact user engagement, platform growth, and overall social impact. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining our current product, potential impacts, key metrics, and experimental approaches to inform a strategic recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on our current market position, I'm thinking this decision might be driven by competitive pressure. Could you share insights on how our fundraising platform compares to other major players in the space?

Why it matters: Helps understand if we're playing catch-up or leading the market Expected answer: We're competitive but facing pressure from specialized platforms Impact on approach: Would influence whether we prioritize breadth or depth

• Considering user behavior, I'm assuming we've seen different engagement patterns across fundraising categories. Can you provide an overview of which categories are currently performing best in terms of user adoption and donation volume?

Why it matters: Identifies areas of strength to potentially double down on Expected answer: A few categories (e.g., disaster relief, personal medical) dominate Impact on approach: Might suggest focusing on improving top performers first

• From a technical standpoint, I'm curious about our platform's scalability. How much additional load can our current infrastructure handle if we expand to new categories?

Why it matters: Determines if expansion is feasible without major tech investments Expected answer: Current infrastructure can handle moderate expansion Impact on approach: Influences the pace and scale of potential category additions

• Regarding resources, I'm wondering about our team's capacity. Do we have dedicated teams for category expansion and feature development, or would this be a shared effort?

Why it matters: Affects our ability to execute on either option effectively Expected answer: Limited dedicated resources, mostly shared teams Impact on approach: Might necessitate a phased approach rather than simultaneous efforts

• Thinking about timelines, is there a specific window of opportunity or deadline we're working against for this decision?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize short-term gains vs. long-term strategy Expected answer: No immediate deadline, but pressure to show progress in next 2 quarters Impact on approach: Allows for a balanced approach with both quick wins and strategic improvements