We’re all on the same side, right? 

Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way when executive directors and board members are working at odds and not communicating well.

That’s not a recipe for fundraising success!

Join the amazing, outspoken, tell-it-as-it-is Joan Garry, our next Fundraising Masters guest, as she and I discuss how to get everyone working together optimally for the good of the cause.

Register for this free webinar on July 13th, at 1:00pm ET!

Lots of people think one particular type of person makes the ideal fundraiser – and that this person exists! They have in mind an image of someone rather outgoing and friendly.

Someone very convincing who knows exactly the right words for any situation and has every fact and figure at his or her fingertips.

Someone comfortable talking about money and not afraid to ask.

Someone driven to close deals and unafraid of rejection.

Ideals are just that – ideals. While we can fantasize about the perfect 10 of a fundraiser, doesn’t it make more sense for each of us to embrace our own personality and ask in a way that will work for us?

Read my full post, What's an Asking Style?, to learn more about the concept and how it can help you immediately feel more comfortable.

read the full post now

Too much time and not enough money from your fundraising event?  Out-of-control volunteers who obsess about table decorations? 

Then it's high time you put fundraising front and center. Don't leave money on the table at your next event. Bring it home for your organization.

Find out how to plan an event that raises more money than anxiety, make it worth the time you put into it, and make it pay off financially.

In my new webinar for CharityHowTo you'll learn how to:

	Develop strategic goals for your event that ensure success
	Raise more by having clear expectations for honorees and chairs
	Enlist a committee that is laser-focused on asking
	Train your staff and volunteers to ask

Two dates quickly approaching in June! Learn more at Charity HowTo.

learn more and register

Sophie Penney, Ph.D., will be using the Asking Styles when she again teaches Fundraising Leadership: Building a Strong Base in the spring, a course offered by Penn State.

I asked Sophie, a longtime Asking Matters member and fan, to shed some light on how it's used:

"Students are asked to take the Assessment and reflect on their Asking Style in Lesson 3 – just general thoughts on what it means to them and how they think it might impact their fundraising. 

They're asked to revisit their Asking Style prior to making an ask in Lesson 8.  The ask is made online with their course asking partner.  Afterward, they talk about Asking Styles while debriefing on how the ask went."

Learn more about this course from Penn State, Fundraising Leadership: Building a Strong Base.

Keep it going Sophie!

I recently headed to Chicago for Northwestern Settlement's 125th anniversary party!

How many organizations reach that milestone… and how many are still growing and innovating at that age?!

On top of that, Ron Manderschied is only the third head of the organization in all those years. Pretty amazing. I'm so proud to have worked with them for 25 years and to have watched them grow six-fold in that time.

Hope you had a great week of fundraising,

Brian SaberPresident of Asking Matters