In all the juggling of fundraising, grant seeking and financial management, one small detail is often overlooked.

Are you asking for donations?

Many not for profit organisations put all their energies into developing fundraising plans and don’t look any further.

“We can’t sell lamingtons again.  We did that last year.  What about doing chocolates this time?”

Sound familiar?

They have the wrong focus.

As an article by Kirt Manecke reminds us, all salesmen will tell you that you won’t get the sale until you ask for it.  Not for profits may not get their funds unless they ask for them.

One of the big problems with people is that we hate to ask for money especially from strangers or people you don’t know well.  Manecke has a solution for that, too.

“Instead of thinking of what you’re doing as fundraising, think of it as helping people invest in what they care about. After all, if they were not interested, they wouldn’t be talking with you in the first place.”

While he is focused on helping individuals at the front line of your not for profit learn to ask for donations, the principle is something that needs to be adopted and carried through the whole organisation.

As volunteer treasurer you will often find yourself in the situation where you are presenting to interested parties and prospective donors.  How much better might your results be if you ask for donations after you have talked about your special cause?