Are you a fundraiser that…

• Thinks it’s impossible to provide meaningful touches to each and every donor?
• Avoids donor thank you calls by responding to day old emails instead?
• Considers social media a fad that has no donor engagement value?
• Solicits your donors for a second gift before sharing with them the impact of the first?
• Puts off adding important donor conversation notes in your database?
• Reads about an awesome campaign idea but never suggests it?
• Asks for donor feedback and then ignores it?
• Rolls your eyes whenever you hear buzz words like multi-channel marketing?
• Yawns the instant you’re presented with donor analytics?

Well, stop it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw&w=500&h=417]

Tell me you don’t have this problem. Your organization’s biggest fundraiser is right around the corner and your board members are sweating bullets because they know you’re going to ask them to invite some people. And in their rule book, friends don’t let friends ask each other to attend fundraising events. So instead of giving your board members anxiety attacks, try this strategy instead.

Let your board members know up front you understand their angst about leaning on friendships. That is why you suggest that they first ask their friends if they are interested in an invite. It’s a simple and thoughtful gesture. Board members can take the opportunity to share their passion for the cause but let their friends decide, under minimal pressure, whether they’d like to be involved. Then, and only then, should they feel comfortable extending invitations.

Voila! No strained friendships and board members stay happy.

Asking a donor to meet with you is easy. Getting them to say yes is the hard part. If your donors turn you down over and over agian, you might want to get creative. Instead of giving them a way out, give yourself a way in. Want an example? I thought you might.

One of my donors is a voracious reader. I know that because each time we talk we’re swapping reading lists and gushing over our Kindles. And perhaps it was because she had her nose in too many books that she kept declining my meeting requests. So what did I do? I mailed her a book. And then a couple of weeks later, I asked her if we could get together for a two person book club. Fabulous idea, she said. And there it was. My yes to an in-person meeting.

So did we chat about the impact of her gift during our coffee date? Or opportunities for another gift? Not at all. But we sure did at our next meeting. And that one wasn’t nearly as hard to get!