ANXIOUS ABOUT THE ASK? NO MORE - WE'VE GOT YOU!
Jul 18, 2017Ohhh, that feeling. Sweaty palms, beating heart, shortish breath (if you're me, bad coffee breath, searching for a mint but all you find is gum that you pop in and chew like it's an Olympic event)...
It's time to make the big ask and you're nervous. Will they be offended? Will they say no? Are you asking too soon, for too much?
It doesn't have to be this way! We've got a formula to make big asks easy, fun, and satisfying for your and your donors.
It's as simple as this: TAP, and then Pre-Ask.
Timing, Amount and Purpose come first. Each time you meet with your donor, you discover at least one of those elements and confirm it with your donor:
- Suzy, thanks so much for taking the time to chat today. So it sounds like the right time to talk about a gift is early next year?
- Thanks for the guidance, Suzy - so $50,000 is the right neighborhood for us to be talking about?
- I loved your story about study abroad - so you'd eventually like to consider a gift to support student travel?
Confirming elements at the end of every visit builds your confidence and helps your donor feel heard and that you're both on the same page.
And then, you have set yourself up for the magical Pre-Ask. Which takes all the anxiety out of asking, and is nothing more than another confirmation.
On the day when you learn your last element - let's say you already knew timing (early next year) and purpose (support study abroad), and Suzy just told you $50,000 is the right amount, which she'll fund from an IRA - you simply confirm the whole kit 'n caboodle:
- Suzy, this is amazing! So you want to create a fund to support study abroad with a $50,000 gift, yes? And early next year is the time for me to come back and make it official?
It's just a sum-up of your conversation - there's no anxiety there, because she just told you all of that.
Et voila! You've done your pre-ask, so the next time you meet, it's as simple as, "Suzy, last time we met, you said ...." and you present her with the proposal and celebrate her wonderfulness and fabulosity.
And there you have it! Anxiety-free asking, easy-peasy!
Questions? Lay 'em on us!
