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Dec 16, 2023
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Sacredness: The Ask

Orbits and PerturbationsšŸŖ

Five minutes or five years??

ā€
When a potential donor agrees to consider a large gift, it literally could happen within five minutes of your first meeting. Ā Or, it might be a five year journey of relationship building. Ā Iā€™ve experienced both situations. Which is ideal? Ā The five minute scenario or the five year journey? Ā My answer: Yes! Ā In the context of sacred fundraising both scenarios are going to happen.

I begin by paying close attention to what might be the most ideal timing in their lives for hearing about an invitation to give. Ā While doing so, I deploy a system called Moves Management, with a few orbital tweaks.

Moves Management (MM) is a must in every fundraiserā€™s tool kit. Ā If you havenā€™t heard of it, Here is a brief explanation of how MM strengthens the sales process for nonprofit fundraisers:

  1. Identify and qualify potential givers
  2. Educate and inspire
  3. Invite to give
  4. Report (and then cycle back to educate/inspire to get them ready for the next invitation)

But because there are nuances when asking someone to consider a large gift, the process is not always linear.Why?Because I am probably not the only perturbation in their life that may be inviting them to make a major gift. Ā Thatā€™s right. Ā I said it. Ā Iā€™m not the only perturbation.

ā€And what is a perturbation, you reasonably ask? Ā According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is ā€œa deviation of a system, moving object, or process from its regular or normal state or path, caused by an outside influence.ā€ Ā Itā€™s not lost on me that the word ā€œperturbā€ is at the root of perturbation. Ā My two younger sisters tell me I could give a masterclass on how to perturbšŸ•ŗšŸ‘.

Hear me on this. Ā A strategic part of my role as a major gift fundraiser is to influence folks who appear to be aligned with my cause. Ā I want to inspire their giving by showing and telling them of the impact weā€™re attempting to achieve. Ā Without the ability to influence our relationship, perhaps they would have continued down a different path and missed out on this wonderful opportunity to give. Ā I perturbed them.

Remember, we are not the only ones influencing their decisions. Ā They have families, jobs, churches, politics, heartbreaks, celebrations, etc., all which affects the timing, amount, and appropriateness of asking for a gift. Ā Are we focusing careful attention, as much as possible, to all those other perturbations in their lives?

Sometimes the pressure that comes from your organizationā€™s leadership can cause you to feel an urgent need to rush giving invitations in an effort to reach the goals that have been set. Ā I encourage you to dialogue with them about taking time to know what is ideal for your donor before asking for a major gift. Ā I am truly sorry if that is the rule rather than the exception for you. Ā It is extremely difficult to use the approach I am suggesting when you are in a constant high pressure environment. Ā By the way, if this is you, click here to schedule Ā a call with me. No strings attached. Letā€™s talk.

My hope and prayer is that you conduct your major gift fundraising work in a way that intersects with your donorā€™s ideal timing as much as possible. Ā You can be more effective and, most importantly, enjoy the process!

Until next weekā€¦

* * * * * * * * * *

Depending on your day to day needs in major donor fundraising, I have three options you can choose from to energize your efforts:ā€

ā€The Catalyst Course is affordable at a cost of $500 and can be done in a schedule that fits best for you, taking anywhere from four weeks to three months to complete. Everything I have learned, successes and failures, is packed into the course for your benefit and enjoyment. I have taken hundreds of folks through this content, helping them with fundraising strategies to empower causes all over the world.

ā€Now is the time to take advantage of these resources!

ā€I look forward to hearing about your good work.

Blessings,

ā€

ā€

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