Fill Up Your Bank Account -- Just Ask For It.

Fill Up Your Bank Account --

Just Ask For It

Non-profit executives in the know say that

if you do not have a presence on the web,

then you are raising money the old fashioned

way. Donating over the internet is growing

every year, but still has a long way to go before

it brings in sustaining donations.

Don't throw away traditional methods of raising funds just yet. They still work effectively. If you are just starting as a volunteer fundraiser, don't jump on the internet highway too quickly to raise funding for your group without weighing your overall fund raising strategy.

Most faithful supporters are more inclined to give you a donation if you just ask for a gift. That is simply the number one tactic for raising funds for your group.

The tendency for most volunteers in an organization is to shy away from the "hard task of asking for a donation". Let someone else do the asking they say. Because it's seemingly nonintrusive, many non-profit volunteers and executives are quick to jump on to the internet bandwagon in hopes of not having to confront donors.

However, your supporters will actually appreciate you more by asking them in person for a gift. Many professional fundraisers and non-profit executives share with their volunteers that the key factor in raising funds is simply asking a previous donor for a gift. Do it with a visitation or telephone call.

Contact with your donor also has the double effect of keeping them involved and informed. The more that your donors are involved with your organization, the more they will donate and increase the frequency of their gifts.

Most donors will appreciate your time involved in calling on them. This will give you the opportunity to update them on what has been happening in your group recently. As you engage them, ask questions about what they think should be happening in your organization, then tell them you will pass their suggestions confidentially on to the president or executive of your group.

Make your visit concise and as you prepare to leave, be sure to ask for their gift. If it is for an annual donation, ask the donor to consider increasing their gift by at least 10%. You might say, "Mr. Donor, last year our records show that you gave $100 to the A-Z Organization. Would you consider increasing your gift this year by at least 10%?" Then wait for their answer.

Don't say a word until they give you an answer. Once they tell you what they will do, then give them options to pay their donation. Use a form or a pledge card for them to note what they plan to do. This will help keep your records straight so that later you don't embarrass the organization by forgetting to bill them or worse, sending them two reminders to send in their donation.

Keep asking donors on a continual basis. Persistence in asking your current donors and new prospects for a gift has always been shown to fill up your bank account. Just keep at it.