4 questions to get to giving
- Tue, November 22 2011
- Filed under: Fundraising essentials
I just finished reading Getting to Giving by Howard Stevenson, and he identifies four questions you must answer for donors:
1. Are you doing important work?
2. Are you well managed?
3. Will my gift make a difference?
4. Will the experience be satisfying to me?
This is a very interesting list. Two questions - the first half of the list - are about the organization. The other two are about the donor. That is the art of fundraising - not just making an ask but creating an experience.
I think this is right on. In fundraising, I think we tend to do a decent job in answering the first two questions, a so-so job on the third question and a terrible job on the fourth question.
If you want to have a great fundraising season, put some serious effort into #3 and #4.
Comments
Thanks for the post. I work with several non-profits, one being Huntsville Ballet, and I will definitely address the last two points you mentioned. We are not only struggling to find support as a non-profit, but as an arts organization in a technology-driven city, our challenge is even more intense!
I appreciate your informative and to-the-point posts!