If a list's contact count goes up or down between the times you open it, and you didn't add or remove anyone yourself, it is almost certainly a saved search (what people often call a "dynamic list"). A saved search stores a set of search criteria, not a fixed group of people. Every time you open it, it re-runs that search against your current data and shows you whoever matches right now. As your data changes, the set of matching contacts changes, so the count changes too.
This is expected behavior, not a bug.
Why a dynamic list's size changes
A dynamic list does not store a list of people. It stores a filter. When you open it, Raise More looks at every contact in your account and returns the ones that currently match. So the count reflects the state of your database at that moment.
Anything that changes whether a contact matches the filter will move that contact in or out of the list. New contacts you import or add can fall into the list. Contacts whose details change can drop out. None of this requires anyone to touch the list directly.
Dynamic vs. static
There are two kinds of lists, and they behave differently.
A static list (created with the "List" option) is a fixed snapshot of contacts taken at the moment you create it. Its members do not change on their own. It only changes when you explicitly add or remove people. The description in the app reads: "A static list of contacts that won't change over time."
A dynamic list (created with the "Saved search" option) is a saved set of filter criteria that re-runs every time you open it. Its members change as your data changes. The description in the app reads: "Dynamic search criteria that updates as contacts change."
The two types do not convert into each other automatically. A static list stays static and a saved search stays dynamic.
How to tell which kind a list is
When you save, you choose between "List" and "Saved search" in the Save As dialog. On the Lists page, both kinds are shown together, and the page describes them as "static lists and dynamic searches." Clicking a name behaves differently depending on the type. If clicking the name opens a saved view of the contacts (a list detail page), it is a static list. If clicking the name runs a search and drops you into your contacts filtered by that criteria, it is a saved search, which is dynamic.
Examples of what moves people in and out
For a dynamic list, common reasons a contact appears or disappears:
A new contact is imported or added and matches the filter, so they join the list.
A contact gives a donation. If the list filters for people who have not given yet, that contact no longer matches and drops off.
A contact is marked Do Not Contact. If your filter excludes Do Not Contact people, they leave the list.
A contact's tags, location, donation history, or other fields change so that they now match (or no longer match) the criteria.
Contacts are merged or removed, which changes the total pool the filter runs against.
For a static list, none of these cause membership to change. The only way the count changes is if you add or remove people yourself.
When to use each
Use a dynamic list (Saved search) when you want a live view that always reflects current data. Examples: "everyone who hasn't given this cycle," "all contacts tagged major donor," "people in a given area." You want these to update as your data updates.
Use a static list (List) when you need the exact same group of people every time, regardless of later changes. Examples: a finalized call sheet, a fixed event invite list, or any group you want to track over time without it shifting underneath you.
How to get a stable snapshot
If you have a saved search and you need its membership to stop changing, freeze it by saving the current results as a new static list:
Open the saved search so it shows the contacts you want to capture.
Save those results as a new list, choosing the "List" option (not "Saved search") in the Save As dialog.
The "List" option creates a static list that captures exactly who matched at that moment and will not change on its own afterward. This is the right move when you want a fixed audience, for example before locking in who a campaign or call session targets.
If you are not sure how to save the current results as a new list from where you are in the app, contact support and we will walk you through it for your view.
Note that email and SMS campaigns already freeze their audience for you. When a campaign is finalized, Raise More records exactly who matched at that point, so contacts added afterward will not unexpectedly receive the send.
FAQ
My list had 500 contacts yesterday and 480 today. Did I lose data?
No. On a dynamic list, the count reflects who matches the filter right now. Some contacts likely changed in a way that no longer matches (for example, they gave, or were marked Do Not Contact). Your contacts are still in your account.
Can I lock a dynamic list so it stops updating?
Not in place. The list type does not switch. Instead, make a static copy of the current results, as described above, and use that going forward.
Will a static list ever change by itself?
No. A static list only changes when someone explicitly adds or removes people.
I want my list to keep updating. Which type should I use?
Use a Saved search (dynamic). It is designed to update as your data changes.