The Art of Collecting Money
Almost anything you read about fundraising emphasizes one key point: You have to ask for money. It is unlikely that donors will simply give unless they have a personal reason and seek you out. Therefore, you must ask for a donation, and asking for money is not easy for most people. In addition, fundraising adds a new wrinkle; you may have to ask for payment of money that has already been pledged.
There is an art to asking for money. It starts with the firm belief in your cause — the very reason you are asking. The words get stuck in your throat if you don't honestly believe people should give their hard-earned money for your cause. If you are willing to put your own money in, then you will feel it is easier to ask others to do the same.
Practice your approach, and if you're reading from a script for phone solicitation, work on the inflection and the timing and try to sound as confident as possible. Sometimes it helps to role-play with someone you trust so you can become more comfortable presenting the information to another person.
If you are trying to collect money from friends and the situation is awkward, keep the discussion on the organization. While you want them to know you are a member, you can always approach from the organizational point of view, saying, “They are collecting” or “We are collecting” as opposed to “I am collecting.” This kind of phrasing is accurate, because it is the organization conducting the fundraiser, and it takes the attention and awkwardness away from you personally asking someone you know for money.
Owed Money
Requesting money and actually collecting it can be two different animals. You may need to contact people who have pledged money and gently remind them you are required to hand in the funds and you haven't yet received their payment. If people continue to owe you money, you can politely become more persistent with reminders. However, you should also realize they may be unable to pay or may have pledged money they only thought they could afford to pay. In this case, you should assume the money is not forthcoming and just let it go.
You should treat collecting money for your fundraiser as you would treat any business. However, because you cannot hold people responsible for a promise, be reasonable when ascertaining whether a collection seems attainable. You don't want to waste time chasing down a $50 donation when you could just as easily find other contributors.
Auction Prizes
Many people find it hard to ask for auction prizes or sponsorship of activities for their fundraising event. The easy way to get the ball rolling is to start by sending an e-mail or letter (this can work for all fundraising activities). This way, the person you are asking has a point of reference, and you don't have to start from the beginning.
The conversation can be structured around the auction or similar activity, and you can include some of the other prizes you have received or suggestions of the kinds of prizes you are hoping to get. The more you already have, the easier it may be to get more people on board. After all, people get inspired when they see how others are contributing, and they don't necessarily want to be the first one to step up to the plate. You might ask for a donation without specifying a specific item. That allows the individual to think of the price level at which she wants to donate, and provides an opportunity for her to be creative. For example, rather than a gift certificate to a food boutique, the owner might surprise you with a fabulous basket of goodies to auction off.
