I'm all about "Taking the Ick out of the Ask."

And I've connected with a bunch of new people these past few months, so here's a bit about me:

Confession: I’m in a long-standing love affair with Priya Parker’s book, The Art of Gathering. I first read it when my husband, Michael & I were in the early stages of planning our MiKel Maine Wedding.

The basic premise is:

"The art of gathering begins with purpose: When should we gather? And why?”

These questions now inspire so many other aspects of my life, including my approach to fundraising conversations.

4 Quick Thoughts from Giving Season 2023 ✨

I oversaw 6 Outbound Fundraising campaigns through 12/31.

I’m taking this week to hibernate 🐻, but I wanted to share these takeaways while they’re fresh:

Nonprofits: January is an (unexpectedly) ideal time to engage your community! ☃️

Whether you met, surpassed, or fell short of your year-end goals…

“I’m enjoying this conversation, but I have to shift this to a fundraising Ask.”

This is a phrase I recommend you NEVER say. 🤐

Hear me out:

🌟 Here’s the #1 goal is for your fundraising conversation:

Craft your interaction so that you NEVER need an awkward transition into the actual moment of the Ask.

In my 5-Minute Fundraising Training, we spend a lot of time learning to craft an easeful arc to your fundraising conversation

What’s the most under-utilized tool in fundraising? The phone! ☎️

Almost 20 years ago, I started making fundraising phone calls for Manhattan Theatre Club.

(John Patrick Shanley’s DOUBT was all the rage: everything old is new again 😱.)

And I NEVER would have thought that phone calls would STILL be this effective in 2024, but they are!

✨ I’ve helped non-profit organizations to raise over $16M - over the phone.

(Primarily in donations of $2k or less!) ✨

Have you ever thought: “I’m fine with talking to community members, but convincing them to become a donor feels icky”?

I frequently hear from clients that the TRANSITION into the Ask is the most challenging moment in a fundraising conversation.

What if there ISN’T a Transition? 🤯

✨Your ENTIRE conversation should include moments of sharing what your org/project needs in order to succeed. ✨

Does anyone else struggle with explaining what it is they actually DO? 🙇🏼

Last week, a fellow consultant asked me this & I wasn’t satisfied with how I answered.

Flashback to the holidays a few years ago 🌲:

For the first time ever, my husband Michael & lived in a home where we could host family.

I bought a couple of board games, so we’d have some activities other than watching TV.

One was Vitaculture (each player builds their own 16th century winery in Tuscany 🍷!)

And I was HOOKED!

The strategy.

The “engine building.”

All the teeny-tiny pieces.

We now have a whole bookshelf full of board games

(I’m not sure how many: thankfully, they live in Michael’s office, not mine!).

It’s something we do to relax & get away from screens.

It’s a way to bond with anyone who visits us

(we’ll cook you a great meal AND see if you’ll try a game!)

But, most surprisingly, I’m convinced that playing board games is MAKING ME A BETTER FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT!

“Always Be Closing” (ABC) is DEAD 😵

It’s icky, it’s transactional, it doesn’t work.

“I know X is a lot of money, but would you consider making a donation of that size?”

This is a phrase I recommend you NEVER say in fundraising. 🤐

One of my biggest 5-Minute Fundraising tips is to NEVER COMMENT ON THE AMOUNT OF AN ASK.

Are you looking for a “new” way to connect with mid-level donors? 👀

Is your organization’s community responding less to emails & letter appeals?

Are & your team eager to build better relationships, but lacking the time (& resources) to do so?

✨ Let’s talk about The 5-Minute Fundraising Ask

New ABCs for the Social Impact Sector 🤓

(As sourced from some stellar Thought Leaders!)

A month ago, I wrote a post on why “Always Be Closing” (ABC) is DEAD 😵

(it’s icky, it’s transactional, it doesn’t work)

I shared MY two favorite new ABCs:

✨ABC: ”ALWAYS BE CANDID” & ABC: “ALWAYS BE CURIOUS” ✨

“Could you make a gift of JUST $25?”

This is yet another phrase you should never use in fundraising. 🙊

Let’s get a conversation going between you & a community member who has the interest/capacity to make a $5k+ gift ASAP.

Non-profit Leaders: It’s not too late to make that Ask & secure a Year-End Match!

🤓 Confession: I frequently think about how Don Miguel Ruiz’s THE FOUR AGREEMENTS applies to fundraising.

Do any of you know that book? (I’ve gifted it more times than I can remember & there’s currently TWO copies on my bookshelf!) 📖

Are YOU working to secure one for Giving Tuesday/Year End?

If you’re not, you should be!

Learn to love Matching Grants because:

“I feel overwhelmed by Giving Tuesday & Year End Giving.” 😱

Practically EVERYONE in the non-profit sector is feeling it right now:

You. Are. Not. Alone.