Do YOU ever feel anxious about asking people for donations when YOU are fundraising?
It can be a really uncomfortable situation. Even if YOU have been involved in a few fundraising campaigns YOU can still get butterflies in your stomach when YOU ask people for donations.
So how do YOU get passed those nerves in order to reach your goals? Gail Perry who is a best-selling author and philanthropy expert offers the following tips for reducing anxiety when fundraising:
- Focus on the cause, not yourself: This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t explain your connection to the cause, but don’t take it personally when a person does not agree to donate. If YOU focus on the cause you are helping, it will help YOU to stay motivated.
- Think of the situation as a problem to be solved: Presenting the cause this way will help the donor feel part of a team working to find a solution.
- Rehearse: YOU obviously don’t want to sound like a robot reciting a script, but practice what YOU want to say a few times. Make sure to cover the key points YOU want to get across.
- Listen more than YOU speak: Don’t do all of the talking. Make sure that the donor can express his/her thoughts about the cause.
- Don’t focus on the money: Think about the difference the organization is making, not the dollar signs.
When it comes to actually asking people for donations, try telling them a story. For instance, a few years ago I was raising money for a non-profit organization. I explained to potential donors that the reason I was trying to raise money was because a friend of mine had just lost a family member. Personal stories allow donors to see that YOU do have a connection to the cause and they will appreciate that.
Asking people for donations can be awkward and uncomfortable but it doesn’t have to be. If YOU keep these tips in mind, your focus and confidence will come shining through.
For more information and tips on fundraising, please visit Gail Perry’s site: http://feeds.feedburner.com/FiredUpFundraising
YOU the fundraiser 