February 25, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
The Ask: How to Ask for Support for Your Nonprofit Cause, Creative Project, or Business Venture
by Laura Fredricks
Laura Fredricks, a veteran fund raiser, offers advice for individuals and organizations on a range of practical money-seeking tasks, such as writing a detailed statement outlining why donors should support an organization.
Before meeting with donors, charities should prepare a statement that details the history of the organization, explains how its mission makes it stand out from similar groups, and outlines quantifiable goals and deadlines the organization expects to meet. In addition, she says, it should explain whom the group serves and what kinds of services it provides, how the group is fulfilling a global or community need, and how the donor will benefit from supporting the charity. Ms. Fredricks says that everyone involved in the organization, be it a board member or volunteer, must be able to speak about the points in the document for donors.
She also offers tips on creating the right atmosphere for approaching donors and the importance of tone of voice, dress, and body language.
She advises that two people should approach a donor or couple, in part to create more energy and allow more opportunities to create strong eye contact between solicitors and potential supporters.
Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, Ind. 46256; (800) 762-2974; http://www.josseybass.com; 243 pages; $39.95; ISBN 978-0-470-48094-6.
