When you ask for more funds from an existing donor, there are times when you will be concerned about offending them. Let's have a reality check: What are the likely responses for requesting additional support from an existing donor?

1. They are probably going to be complimented by the fact that you are challenging them.
2. They may feel the Lord is really trying to say something here and wants them to respond accordingly.
3. They can be very gracious and say: "You know we love what you're doing but to be honest with you, I think we're going to have to stay at our current level of giving."

My question to you is: "Can you handle anyone of these three responses?" If yes, what are you waiting for? If not, you and your donor might be missing out on some special blessings from the Lord and letting negative thinking take control. My advice-- you've got to get over it!

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If you're like me, we tend to conduct business as usual. It's the same old thing and certainly there's nothing wrong in carrying out our mission with consistency and persistence but it is good to stir up the imagination of your donors. Sit down for a moment and describe what you'd like to see take place in your ministry. Paint a picture, tell a story, and clearly cast your vision so as to give your prospect and donors a chance to imagine what can happen as a result of their giving. People get excited about vision and not merely the same old, same old. If you truly want to be successful in fund raising, you'll need to stir up your donors' imagination in terms of your vision.

Don't forget...

25% Summer Sale on All People Raising Materials
Now through June 15! (Use order code A414)

People Raising Conferences

Chicago / Oak Brook, IL
June 11-12, 2010
(Register by May 30 and save $50)

Kansas City, MO
July 19-20, 2010

Chicago / Oak Brook, IL
Oct 1-2, 2010

As you know everyone has preferences. To increase your effectiveness in partnership development it's important that you not only understand but identify the preferences that your prospects and donors have. For example, do they prefer to get your call at work or at home? Do they prefer your newsletter via the internet or do they want a printed version? Do they like to give monthly or quarterly? Do they like to be called Bill or Billy? We live in an age where it's a lot easier to personalize your communication with people. It's vital that you begin to determine the preferences of your donors and prospects.

Raising funds takes time and energy and at times can be very challenging. How you portray yourself and your responsibility on raising the funds is key. Your friends and supporters will certainly pick up any negative vibes on your part. At times, one might feel overwhelmed and negative feelings can come out so easily. For example, instead of being very positive on the opportunity and responsibility in raising funds one might simply say, "Well my organization is making me raise my funds." Such comments like this are not really very productive. When it comes to support raising or ministry partner development, one needs to always maintain a positive attitude.

The phone is a great tool in seeking appointments, updating people, and encouraging people. It's just a terrific tool. As you place that call, be sensitive to the person you are calling. There will be times when your call happens to come at a bad time. The person receiving you call might be extremely busy or totally preoccupied. Be sensitive and you might simply say, "I sense this is not a good time to talk. When should we talk again?" Being sensitive will get you a lot closer to your goal of communicating to your prospects and donors as you raise personal support or do fund raising for your organization.

Getting out with people in public is so critical for those seeking to raise fund. You meet people that know of your ministry as well as meet brand new people. Recently, my wife and I were out to eat with one of our donors and ran into a person that I had made contact with a number of years ago. I excused myself from the table with my wife and donors, made my way to greet the other people and had a very nice conversation. Again, it was another one of those opportunities which will now allow me in the future to go back to these prospects and keep building that relationship. All of that is because I was seen in public.

Over a period of time we've been able to make inroads into a major church. It's literally taken a number of years to make all this happen. The key has been getting an advocate. Our advocate believes in our mission, participates in our mission and engages actively in their church and has provided high profile for our ministry. This advocate has a close relationship with key people in their church, and has done an effective job on educating people about our ministry. When the church comes back and indicates to us that our advocate has done a very effective job representing us, we indeed know that we are on the right track. In this case, the increased financial support has been an indication of how effective our advocate has been. When it comes to missionary support raising or fund raising for your organization look for those key people that can serve you well as an advocate in their local church.

How we view fund raising is very critical. If you approach people demanding their support, you better be prepared for their likely negative response. On the other hand, if you prayerfully approach people requesting their support, then you will get a totally different response. When making your request, don't be afraid to challenge them and give them the opportunity to respond. Remember there is a big difference between demanding and requesting when it comes to support raising or fundraising for your organization.

As you engage churches in seeking their financial support, many times you will be told: "We are working on the church budget." I believe it's a natural response on one's part to simply wait until the church budget is completed and then recontact them. If at all possible, try to meet with the church's missions committee or appropriate leadership prior to the budget being finalized. If they connect with your passion, that meeting might encourage them to include you in the church budget and possibly at even a greater level than initially anticipated. This can potentially make a key difference when it comes to support raising or ministry partner development.

I'll never forget the urgent call that came from one of our donors. Their family was experiencing an emergency. In this particular scenario, the donor had left a voice message and it was very apparent that they were very concerned and were asking for my prayer support. Its times like these that we can quickly move in to a ministry mode for our donors. For me, it's a privilege to minster to them because they have ministered so much to me. So don't be surprised when occasions come when they need you more that you need them. Be prepared to respond and to minister.

Someone had shared this rather interesting, innovative approach of staying in contact with their donors. On the anniversary of the donor's first gift/pledge they would send an anniversary card. Obviously, this is something that can be done by email as well. Keep in mind when raising personal support or fund raising for your organization that it is very easy to lose donors. Once lost, it can be very difficult to restore their giving.