Dear [First Name],

Fundraising thrives on strong community relationships, which is why I've asked Asking Matters Expert Sue Kindred to expand her role to include Community Engagement Manager! She has the expertise and experience needed to help build an even stronger community at Asking Matters, where we can all come together as fellow fundraisers.

Her first step was to create the Asking Matters Virtual Water Cooler! In this video series, I will be joined by my fellow fundraising experts and colleagues for casual, one-on-one conversations where we get to know each other better – and you get to know us better!

Our first getting-to-know-you video features Sue and me. We know that sharing a bit about ourselves is important to building and enriching the Asking Matters community. We hope you have as much fun watching it as we did making it!

Isn’t this the question you ask yourself as a fundraising professional, day after day: “How do we get the money?" 

Lori Jacobwith has been studying her own language around money for many years, thanks to her favorite book The Soul of Money and its author Lynne Twist, and others committed to positive language choices.

Because of what she's read, learned and practiced, she has found that re-framing her own language and thoughts about money has allowed more money to flow to her and the social profit organizations she's worked with. Now, Lori has shared her thoughts on the issue on the Asking Matters blog, where you can read her post How Do We Get the Money?

And be sure to join us for Lori's upcoming Fundraising Masters session, Talking About the Soul of Money, for an in-depth look into our relationship with money!

This FREE Fundraising Masters webinar on June 14th at 1:00PM ET is intended to inspire a paradigm shift for your money conversations both personally and for your nonprofit organization.

Amazingly Successful Face-To-Face Solicitations: a Step-By-Step Guide to Asking in Person

Almost 90% of all charitable gifts come from individuals, and virtually no one gives their biggest gift without being asked face-to-face. If you’re not out there asking, you’re leaving most of the charitable money on the table.

Do you know how to have an intentional conversation during which you ask a donor for a personally significant gift? Do you ask the most revealing questions and get your donor to do most of the talking? Do you feel comfortable with gift negotiations?

Join me as I drill deep into the solicitation meeting itself on Wednesday, June 7th at 1:00pm ET, or Tuesday, June 13th at 3:00pm ET.

Get Your Board to Give Their Biggest Gifts and Help You Fundraise

Imagine how much you could accomplish if every board member contributed his or her best gift and was enthusiastically involved in helping the organization fundraise. Well, that’s not going to happen unless you educate the board and develop a strategic plan for their involvement.

You can’t just keep asking them to “solicit their lists” – it’s not strategic and it deadens your board members’ spirit and willingness to be involved. Your board must lead the way in fundraising if your organization is going to fulfill its vision and have the impact everyone wants. That means a thought-out, formal board solicitation process and a detailed plan for how to strategically involve board members in fundraising.

Join me to learn more on Wednesday, July 12th at 1:00pm ET, or Wednesday, July 19th at 1:00pm ET.

Planned Giving Roundtable of Arizona – I was delighted to deliver a keynote on Asking Styles and lead a breakout on asking. Hands down this was the most enthusiastic audience – ever! – including everyone in the back of the ballroom! So interesting helping financial planners, tax and estate attorneys, donor advisors, and planned giving officers learn how to apply their Styles and take into account their donor/client Styles.

Massachusetts Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs – Like most organizations, the clubs are eager to learn how to inspire their board members to give generously and be involved in fundraising. We had a good discussion about how to move beyond the quid pro quo fundraising that isn't strategic and is so deadening to board members. One way is to pull back on the tendency to look to board members to make fundraising events a success. If you're interested in hearing more on my take on this, take a look at this older post.

If you'd like me to teach your board about using Asking Styles to up their fundraising game, reach out to us using the link below!

Hope you're having a great year of fundraising,

Let's get social: