I just sent this to those subscribed to my “Ask Without Fear!” email newsletter. It got a great response. I hope it helps you as we face these challenging times.
So much about fundraising is counter-intuitive.
In times like these – well, we’ve never seen one person evaporate $10 trillion in wealth – but from our experience fundraising in the past recessions – the dot com bust of the late ’90s, the fallout of the 2008, even the lockdowns – donors like to donate.
Don’t make this seemingly kind decision
When communities and countries experience financial hardship, many nonprofit leaders say, “The times are hard. We need to be kind to our donors. We can’t ask them for money right now.”
Which is precisely the wrong thing to do.
As I like to say in my Ask Without Fear! trainings, “How dare you make up your donor’s mind for them!”
You may intend to be kind. But the donors just hear silence. So they give to other causes, possibly thinking your nonprofit is all set.
The kind thing to do is to ask
Except this one nonprofit leader. He still reached out. And he even still asked. With compassion and with understanding that they may not be able to give anything.
I hope this helps you too. Please keep asking for you cause.
