I love visiting with potential donors. Breakfast, lunch, drinks, dinner, their office, their house, the club, their boat (true story), doesn’t matter. My happy place is out of my office. And my nightmare is a visitless week spent at my desk. Or in meetings. But, for as much as I like being out, seeing people, I don’t always like asking for visits. Makes sense, right? Fundraising is a lot like dating. And asking someone out (especially … [Read more...] about Fearless Outreach
Small Talk Epilogue: Practice Makes Perfect
Think about something you’re really good at. Chances are you’re not an expert because you read a book about it. Or a blog post for that matter! We learn by doing. Trial and error. Testing. Practice. The same applies to small talk. Practice is the only way to get better. To bring our series on small talk for fundraisers to a close, here are a few easy ideas for practicing some of the things we've covered: … [Read more...] about Small Talk Epilogue: Practice Makes Perfect
Fundraising: What’s it About?
I joined twitter this week. Five or so years late to the party, I know. Seriously though, check me out here. One of the first tweets to pop up in my feed was this one from a consultant I really respect: #Fundraising is emphatically NOT about money. Do you agree?? http://t.co/YXhHv6uHxT — Gail Perry (@GailPerrync) June 9, 2014 OK, I’ll bite. Fundraising not about money! What!?!? I thought, “Wait a minute; something about this … [Read more...] about Fundraising: What’s it About?
Small Talk #3 – Talking (Finally)
Here’s how it went: Me: [Meekly] Hi, sorry to interrupt. I’m Michael with *organization*, just wanted to say hello and welcome. Prospect: Oh, thank you. I’m Bob. Nice to meet you. Me: Nice to meet you as well. [Semi-awkward pause] First time here? Prospect: [Losing interest] First time in a long time. Me: Oh, great! [Not sure what to say next] Well, enjoy the evening. Pleasure meeting you. And then I walked away. You think … [Read more...] about Small Talk #3 – Talking (Finally)
Small Talk #2 – Building Your Toolbox
It was bittersweet when I realized that most small talk is boring and predictable. I had dreamed of the day I’d finally learn the secret to becoming the life of the party. I’d make fast friends with roomfuls of people – all thanks to my newfound wit and charm. Classic rookie mindset. There is no magic bullet. There are, however, tried and true frameworks that can be mastered with thoughtful practice over time. Like many social rituals, … [Read more...] about Small Talk #2 – Building Your Toolbox