Preparation is essential to effective fundraising. And that takes time. Case statements. Prospect research. Project budgets, goals and outcomes. Marketing materials. Databases. Board training. And more.
That said, sometimes we spend more time talking about, thinking about, meeting about, and getting ready to raise money than in actually asking people for money.
Take a look at your schedule for today. Or for tomorrow. Or for this week. Of all your meetings, appointments, work sessions and to-do tasks, how many of them are actual asks for money? It might be a personalized letter. It could be a phone call. Perhaps it’s a grant proposal. It might be a follow-up email. Or maybe it’s a face-to- face coffee.
Whatever the form of the ask, what percentage of your time today, tomorrow or this week is actually asking? And how does that compare with the amount of time you’re spending getting ready to ask? Watch your calendar over the coming days and weeks. Consider how you might increase the percentage of your time spent actually asking for money.
Let’s discus how your business or organization can spend more time asking for money.
