How To Ask For Money For Charity

Here’s How To Ask For Money For Charity:

Determine who you are asking and who shall make the ask and when and where.

If possible, have two people go to solicitation meeting, such as board chair and executive director---or executive director and development director.

Decide what the ask is.

Talk about the kids, the family, work, the last time you saw the other person.

Use small talk before big talk, friendraising before fundraising, and cultivation before solicitation...then make a transition to the ask.

Get the pleasantries and the small talk out of the way first before the big talk.

Then make a transition so that people know the topic has changed to something far more serious…the fact that you need their support and help.

Demonstrate how the money can make a difference or reach a goal and why you need the funds you are asking for and how the gift will be honored and recognized.

Establish a connection.

Make your ask a question, and ask for something concrete and specific.

Research your donors to probe their minds and giving motivations.

Make the ask.

Research your donors to read their minds.

Practice, practice, practice asking – and then practice some more.

Practice every aspect of your ask.

Avoid being boring.

Ask donors for advice – you’ll usually end up with giving you money.

Ask donors if they would consider a gift of a specific amount to your organization.

When possible and when appropriate have a peer of theirs make the ask. 

Don’t rush making fundraising asks!

As often as possible, make your first a non-monetary ask.

Build authentic and long-lasting relationships with your prospects.

Ask them to come to free special events.

Ask them to become volunteers.

Get them engaged and involved!

Provide them a free subscription to your newsletter.

Show people how they can make a significant difference or reach a particular goal.

Show them that their donation is doing something specific and concrete.

If at all possible, ask them to contribute to help do something special.

Remind the prospect of the connection that you personally have with the organization, and that they have with the organization (if they have one).

Ensure that the person you are talking to understands the impact of your mission, what your charity does, why it is important and why you need the dollars you are asking for.

Make your ask as a question, and ask for something concrete and specific.

Ask for advice.

Always ask for a specific amount to contribute to the cause.

If you are asking for money, it’s always best to make the approach face-to-face in person.

Orchestrate peer asks. The most serious money is raised when a person is asked by someone they know and respect.

Write your own check first.

Offer payment options.

Hire a fundraising expert to advise, guide and inspire you.

P.S. Anything else that YOU would add?

The author, Dr. John B. Charnay, CEO of Charnay and Associates in Greater Los Angeles, is a top nonprofit fundraising advisor and expert who has raised over a quarter of a billion dollars during his distinguished career. He has been in charge of numerous major fundraising special events. He often strategically advises board chairs and facilitates board fundraising retreats and has trained numerous boards and development directors and their staffs in fundraising. He has extensive experience teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels at leading universities throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including USC, UCLA, CSUN, FIDM, Woodbury and Pepperdine. Additionally, he is an award-winning public relations professional. He has been a strategic PR advisor to many famous celebrities and Fortune 1000 CEOs. Additionally, he serves as a trusted strategic philanthropic advisor to numerous high net worth individuals & families & family offices. To meet him and ask for his support, invite him to be LinkedIn (email in profile) and contact him today!