One of your Sydney-based fundraising colleagues sent me a request for money this week. The request, from a hospital, opened with “We hope you don’t mind, but this time we are reaching out to ask for your support”. Of course I do not mind. Maybe I did not mind before you raised the possibility. Even if I did mind, don’t apologise for fundraising. Do not put the doubt in the prospect or donor’s mind.
I have been a recent patient at this hospital. I used their paid internet while in this hospital for a week. After discharge, I received a “survey” about my experience using the internet. In the survey, the hospital asked if I would opt in to receiving fundraising and marketing appeals. Of course I said yes. Therefore, I received this email appeal just a week later. So, why would I “mind” the hospital reaching out to ask for support?
Be confident when making an ask and your donors will respond accordingly. If you are not confident, perhaps you are in the wrong business!
Stephen Mally brings over 30 years of fundraising and non-profit consulting to the project. Having served as a 20-year fundraising veteran in the United States for a variety of health care related charities and hospitals, Stephen transitioned to consulting in Asia-Pacific and in Europe in 2008 where he has consulted with over 500 organisations in those regions gaining a vast amount of diverse exposure to diverse organisations, SRM solutions, fundraising programming and fundraising operations.
Stephen acquired his Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential in 2012. Less than 150 fundraisers in Australia and New Zealand hold the CFRE credential, which is the first globally recognised credential for fundraising professionals. CFRE International certifies experienced fundraising professionals aspiring to the highest standards of ethics, competence and service to the philanthropic sector.
Stephen was named a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) in 2017.
One of your Sydney-based fundraising colleagues sent me a request for money this week. The request, from a hospital, opened with “We hope you don’t mind, but this time we are reaching out to ask for your support”. Of course I do not mind. Maybe I did not mind before you raised the possibility. Even if I did mind, don’t apologise for fundraising. Do not put the doubt in the prospect or donor’s mind.