Basically, I’m a Shy Person

It’s absolutely amazing what you don’t raise when you don’t ask. Board members cannot abdicate their responsibility for raising funds. No Money, No Mission. In every organization, it requires philanthropy to meet its mission.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be drawing on some of the top reasons Board Members and Volunteers give for not being willing to solicit—and more.

ANSWER

I can understand how you feel. But that’s easy to overcome as far as asking is concerned.

Take as a given that you will never have to make a call by yourself. There will always be a staff person or a Board member who can go with you.

Keep in mind, one of the most important things you can do is to open doors and help make the appointment. There are a number of people where you can do that.

And by the way, being shy is no problem. Actually, it’s an attribute. What is less desirable is someone blustering and loud, who goes swaggering in to make the ask. No one likes that. It’s a put-off.

The staff will coach you. You will be great.