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People Raising: Newsletter Archives

2 Options for Wording Your Ask (8/1/07)

During your fund raising appointment, it is extremely important that you end well. With a goal of asking people to play a financial part in your ministry or organization, it is down right critical that you handle "the ask" well. There are 2 options at your disposal for wording your ask.

1. Asking for a Specific Amount

People need to know very specifically how they can help you and your ministry. Why keep people guessing? Why leave it open ended? Take a deep breath and ask for the gift. For example, "Would you be one of those people that would support me at $250 a month?"

Recently, I was speaking to a person who had gone though the People Raising Conference. He told the story of how he felt compelled to make an appointment with a trusted friend, and as he set up the appointment, he indicated he wanted to ask him to play a significant role in his ministry. He knew his friend had the capacity to make a major gift. As he met, he boldly asked for a $5,000 gift and the man agreed to support at that level. You better believe he was grateful that he asked for a specific amount!

2. Asking within a Gift Range

Sometimes you might choose to ask a person for a gift in a range. For example, "Would you be one of those people that would provide a gift in the range of $200-$300?"

Here again you are very specifically spelling out, for your prospect or donor, how they could be of help to your ministry.

Even if your prospect or donor cannot give at the level you are asking, you can always negotiate a level that they feel comfortable with, but the very fact you have challenged them with a specific amount or range, you can rest assured your challenge will produce a far higher gift than simply keeping your ask opened-ended.

Remember, during your fund raising appointment, it is extremely important that you end well. With a goal of asking people to play a financial part in your ministry or organization, it is down right critical that you handle "the ask" well.

You can't go wrong with these 2 options. Try it and watch the Lord encourage you as people that know, trust and care for you join your team.

Copyright 2007 People Raising

"This is beautiful, it’s Biblical, it’s practical and now we have the opportunity of getting into the author's mind and heart and seeing how to raise people who care about what God is doing around the world."

Dr. Ron Blue