Just Work

Many times we make excuses. You hear about the economy, the prospective donors won't return my calls, or about internal meetings - all designed to show why it is impossible for you to do your job.

I want to call us back to basics. Take time every day (at least a few times a week) to look at your donor database, find people that could benefit your organization and make some calls to ask for appointments. Once you get a few appointments - you have justified your travel expense. Why not use Google to find a few corporations and foundations in the area to which you are going? We did that recently with a great outcome!

You don't raise money sitting behind your desk (unless you are a grant writer - and even then a personal visit to the grant making organization could be beneficial to you).

So just pick up the phone and call. This will be an exciting day!

Details

I believe strongly that we show how much we care and value our donor relationships by how much attention we pay to the details. Here are a few ways that it is evidenced:

1. Our correspondence to them is perfect (or at least close!).
2. We spell correctly.
3. Their name is correctly spelled and in the form they have requested.
4. We know business etiquette and we use it.
5. When with them, we talk about them not about us and our projects.
6. We anticipate what they may need when we are with them or they attend our events and we make sure they are comfortable and at ease.
7. Preferred methods of communication are utilized (IE. cell phone, business, home, or e-mail - we know what they like and use it).

Knowing details about our donors show that we pay attention and that we care.