by Richard Perry | May 22, 2024 | Asking, Courage, taking donors to the scene, Urgency | Asking, Donor Conversation, Focus, Mission
A repeated theme that Jeff and I, and our team of frontline coaches, come across in our work is summed up in the statement we often hear: “I know I am not asking my donors the right way and I can’t figure out why that is.” And that “right way” may be about the amount...
by Richard Perry | Mar 6, 2024 | Asking, Donor Communication, Fear, Permission-Based Asking | Asking, Communication, Donor Conversation, Motivation, Permission-Based Asking, Personal Development
You’re sitting across from the donor. You’ve already determined that an ask of $100,000 for the work she loves perfectly fits her capacity and inclination to give. But because she has given gifts in $5,000 increments for a total of $15,000 in one year, you’re...
by Richard Perry | Nov 17, 2023 | Asking, Fear, Frontline Fundraiser, Program Information | Asking, Fundraising, Major Gift Officers, Passions and Interests, Permission-Based Asking, Storytelling, Teamwork
The donor is giving $5,000 a year. She has the capacity to easily give $250,000, has the inclination, and has an expressed desire to connect more deeply with the organization. But the frontline fundraiser does not ask for more. Why? He is afraid it might offend her...
by Richard Perry | Sep 11, 2023 | Asking, Donor Communication, Donor Motivation, Giving Motivations | Asking, Communication, Giving
The main reason why it’s so difficult to talk about the problem that your non-profit is organized to address is that you would rather talk about yourself and all the good you’re doing. Now, hold on!! That’s not meant to be offensive. It’s meant to get your attention...
by Guest Contributor | Sep 8, 2023 | Asking, Donor Conversations, Donor Relations, Legacy, Permission-Based Asking, Planned Giving | Asking, Donor Conversation, Fundraising, Giving, Planned giving, Relationships
If you are newer to the world of planned giving, or perhaps you’re an MGO or MLO being asked to have planned gift conversations with your donors, you may be experiencing what I call “The Ick Factor.” The first time you learn about some of the strategies used in...