Everything I know about making phone calls I've learned the hard way. The best fundraisers out there are good on the phone. Period. Once I realized how important this part of the job is, I knew I had to figure out how to get better. So, over time, I’ve gone from bumbling idiot on the phone to…just idiot, I guess. And now that prospecting calls are a key part of my daily process, I don’t hate them anymore. This is post #4 in a series on … [Read more...] about Outreach #4 – Phone Script
qualification
Outreach #2 – A Winning Process
We've all worked with them. You know who I’m talking about. Gift officers who come in, start off well enough, but then completely flame out. Sure, they cultivate a handful of donors, and maybe land a major gift or two. But, they only ever get knee deep into their portfolios before sputtering to a stand-still. They’re gone in a little less than two years – off with another organization, repeating this same pattern. … [Read more...] about Outreach #2 – A Winning Process
Fearless Outreach
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