I hear the following all the time when I ask fundraisers about their efforts to land meetings with major and legacy donors:
“I tried calling, but they didn’t answer the phone,” they say.
So what’s really happening here.
So, what should you do to get better results?
First, gain empathy. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine what it’s like to be them. Odds are, you’ve been in their position before, have you ever received unexpected calls to your cell phone? Set aside what you, your boss and your board want and, instead, consider what they (your donors) might want. I know, I know, this isn’t easy (it isn’t supposed to be), but I promise, it’s worth it.
Next, now that you are thinking about them (NOT YOU!), recognize that if you are only calling once via one communication channel you are actually doing a disservice to your donor. Calling once via one channel is not a serious (or comprehensive) outreach effort— it’s more closely aligned with “flailing,” and “going through the motions.”
Think of it this way.
Imagine a new family moves into your neighborhood. If you seriously wanted to get that neighbor you didn’t know on the phone because you were told that she was throwing a party for your community and you wanted to offer help cooking the meal, what would you do?
Would you call once and give up? No! Of course not. Same goes here.
Now, with that mindset, consider this instead when you try to secure meetings with major donors.
Whew! I hope that helps.
If you want more pointers like these, I recommend you either download my super simple free report on the subject or watch our recorded webinar here for free. Getting more meetings with major donors isn’t easy, but these simple tips and free resources can go a long way in helping you in your efforts.
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