The challenge most often expressed in my recent Survey Monkey questionnaire about what’s giving you the biggest headaches was fundraising – especially the fear of fundraising by folks who have never asked strangers for money before.
Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels wrote a column on this exact subject a couple years back…
“There is a lot of fear out there! Very simply, here is how you get over that fear: just start asking.
“I’m not trying to be glib. I’m serious. In every case where I’ve worked with a major gift officer who was afraid to ask, the only way they got over it was to actually do it.
“You have to make the decision that you are finally going to put fear to the side and step through it (or over it or whatever) – you are going to do it.
“I can hear you now: ‘That answer is too simple, Jeff. Isn’t there so much more to making an ask than just asking a donor for a gift?’ Yes, there is, you’re right… but first it takes your decision to do it.”
Click here to read the full column.
And click here if you haven’t yet read my “Fearless Fundraising Formula” special report on this subject.
Quick Hits
* August 18 is “National Bad Poetry Day.” NO ONE can screw this up. If your poetry stinks on ice…fine. Nothing has to rhyme. Nothing has to flow smoothly. It’s BAD poetry day. This is a perfect opportunity for a fun campaign blog post, e-newsletter, social media or even an event where your supporters are invited to join you and share their own bad poetry. Don’t miss out on this one.
* If you’re going to do radio and TV ads, they should be trackable so you know if you’re really getting bang for your buck. Like what Mike Lindell does for My Pillow with his “promo codes” that tell him exactly what the source of his incoming sales are. Your ads should be calling on listeners/viewers to take some action that you can measure…like go to your website to sign a petition or take a survey.
* Fatigue can be a distraction: If your energy is low, you may not perform at your best. Solution: make sure you take regular breaks. Get out of the office and get some fresh air. Eat your lunch in the park and give your eyes a break from looking at a screen. Eat lots of fresh foods and stay hydrated by keeping a water pitcher on your desk. – Source: ProSkills
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“And vs Or. Leading a project is about causing the death of a million ‘ands’. You can’t create an event that’s intimate, open to all comers, proven, resilient for any weather, held outdoors and unique. … Managing a project is the craft of picking this ‘or’ that.” – Seth Godin