Archive for the "Face to Face Fundraising" Category
The Magic Number: How to Ask for the “Right” Gift
Well, it’s official. People really hate to be asked for an inappropriately sized gift. At least, that’s the case according to study released this week about the giving habits of wealthy Americans (see link below). Study participants reported that one of the top reasons they stop giving to a charity is that they are asked for an inappropriate amount, presumably an amount that is too large.
And, who can blame them? A poorly calculated ask… Read the rest- 10 November 2025
- Category: Face to Face Fundraising,Individual Giving,Major Gifts Fundraising,Solicitation,Uncategorized
- 1 Comment
- Written by: Ann Goldman
The secret to major gifts fundraising is…
The secret to asking for money in person is…there is no secret! Anyone can do it and do it well. There are no special rites of initiation, no all-important books to read. The most crucial part is getting out the door and doing it.
At a Front Range Source training we held on Tuesday night, board and staff members expressed a lot of interest in how to make “the ask” in person. So, we’ve got… Read the rest- 30 September 2025
- Category: Donor Cultivation,Face to Face Fundraising,Individual Giving,Major Gifts Fundraising,Solicitation
- 0 Comment
- Written by: Leslie Allen
Friends Forever? What Results May Be Saying about Fundraising from Individuals
Have you seen the Guidestar report that recently came out about fundraising performance in the first part of this year? In a survey of over 7,000 organizations, 40% said that they saw their total contributions decline between January 1 and May 31 this year compared to the same time last year; 26% said their contributions had decreased “greatly”.
What I’m finding most disturbing, though, is that 67% said that a reason they are seeing… Read the rest- 18 August 2025
- Category: Face to Face Fundraising,Fundraising General,Individual Giving,Major Gifts Fundraising
- 0 Comment
- Written by: Leslie Allen
Cross Cultural Experiences: Food and Boards are the Same Everywhere
I was recently in India working with the board of a large development organization.
It was my first time in amazing India. I was incredibly inspired by the activists I was working with, and I was completely overwhelmed with the different context in which they were operating.
And then, I heard a familiar refrain. A board member actually said, “I’ll do anything but raise money.” I was suddenly transformed back to my own reality. How… Read the rest- 30 April 2026
- Category: Face to Face Fundraising,Working with Boards
- 1 Comment
- Written by: Leslie Allen
The Major Gifts Checklist - Not!
Last month, The Agitator featured a post on checklists, spurred on by the interest in the book “The Checklist Manifesto” by Dr. Atul Gawande. Denny Hatch created one for direct marketing which you can see here.
I was thinking how great it would be to create one for Major Gifts – I love lists – but then I got to thinking.
Face-to-Face solicitation isn’t like direct marketing. You can never… Read the rest- 21 April 2026
- Category: Face to Face Fundraising,Major Gifts Fundraising
- 0 Comment
- Written by: Leslie Allen