I went to a fundraising event recently where I heard the best request for financial support I can remember.
It wasn’t the rhetoric or the moving stories that did it, although both were strong. It was how confidently the nonprofit founder asked.
He wasn’t embarrassed or tentative. He didn’t make jokes about our pocketbooks. He didn’t allude to money as an elephant in the room. (In fact, a few days before the event, he told us all in an email, “I’ll be asking you to make a pledge of financial support for the coming year.”) (more…)