Many development professionals and most volunteers believe solicitation to be the most important stage of the giving cycle. Webcasts, conferences, and books on ‘making the ask’ sell because people are convinced of the preeminence of the solicitation. The conventional wisdom is that there must be a special technique, a preferred tactic, or a eloquent turn…
Tag: Solicitation
Solicitation Without Inspiration Equals Frustration
At a national conference for advancement leaders yesterday, I listened to a keynote presentation given by Patrick F. Bassett, president of the National Association of Independent Schools, regarding key trends and predictions for advancement. One statement he made struck a chord with me, “We are learning from surveys that major donors are reporting an increase…