

It should specify, among other things, the minimum donation that would qualify as a restricted gift. If you’re seeking restricted funds, before meeting with donors be sure your organization has a gift acceptance policy. With the understanding that you want your gift to benefit children and their families, may we use the money to support our children’s programs as we see fit?” This gives the organization more flexibility while still meeting the donor’s goals.įor example, you might say to the donor, “You’ve expressed an interest in child development, which encompasses nearly everything we do. If the donor has indicated an interest in earmarking her contribution, however, a skilled asker can sometimes negotiate a broader use of the money. You want unrestricted gifts whenever possible and need to be comfortable asking for them.

One of the advantages of engaging individual donors (compared to foundations, corporations, or government grantmakers) is that, in most cases, they can provide general donations to use as you see fit. If you sense any indications that she wants to restrict her gift to a specific program or campaign, this is the time to clarify and honor that intent.

Not every question below is relevant for every donor or every visit. Then it’s time for the “after questions.” Talk about how the gift will make a difference. Without a doubt, a strong ask is one of the keys to successful fundraising-but then what? When you hear the words, “Yes, I’d like to help,” how do you respond?įirst of all, be grateful and enthusiastic. If you’re new to face-to-face fundraising, you’re probably focusing on “the ask”: how to frame your request in the most compelling, inspiring way. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.
