Comments on: 5 Fundraising Lessons from a 10-Year-Old and UNICEF

By: Michael J. Rosen, CFRE

Michael J. Rosen, CFRE — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:01:32 +0000

Andrea, thank you for sharing your own childhood story. While harsh at the time, I'm guessing your experience has given you a chuckle or two since in addition to the good lesson. A corollary lesson was learned by my wife when she played piano for a group of senior citizens. Immediately after she finished playing Send in the Clowns, the audience applauded. Then, when the applause died down, one lady made a request, "Can you play Send in the Clowns?" My wife played it...again. So, even if folks seem to like what you're offering and seem to be paying attention, they might not in reality. Fortunately, challenges are something that make our lives fun and give us good stories to tell.

By: Michael J. Rosen, CFRE

Michael J. Rosen, CFRE — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:19:00 +0000

Claire, thanks for sharing your own childhood experience with UNICEF. You learned another valuable lesson: Not everyone you ask will give. Fear of getting a “No” keeps many folks from asking; they hate rejection. You learned that, despite the occasional rejection, you need to keep asking if you want to find those people who will give.

While my default position on the multiple-ask tactic is against it, I do recognize that it can be appropriate and effective at times primarily for the reason you gave. Doing a multiple-campaign appeal can, sometimes, work with major donors/prospects when you’re meeting face-to-face. However, I believe doing so in a phonathon or direct-mail appeal can be problematic. So, I won’t be absolutist on the subject. But, I will urger extreme caution.

By: Andrea Whatman

Andrea Whatman — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:46:32 +0000

Loved this…….. mine was playing the piano at the old-age home on a Saturday afternoon for tea. Everyone was very complimentary except one lady. Whilst standing waiting for my dad to collect me, she asked me if it was me playing the piano? I replied with a self-satisfied smile, “Yes.” She then said, “Thank Goodness you have finished; it was b……. awful!!!!!!!!!” So, I learnt: You can’t please everyone…….plus you need to know if you are giving a good product……… the thought that counted didn’t seem to comfort much that night!

By: Claire Axelrad (@CharityClairity)

Claire Axelrad (@CharityClairity) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 05:22:43 +0000

Michael, this brings back memories. What an excellent post, with so many life lessons. I too trick-or-treated for UNICEF separately, on the afternoon of Halloween. I will never forget one woman who became absolutely outraged at the thought that children were asking for money rather than candy. She screamed at us: “Halloween is for children!!”; then stuffed some candy into the narrow openings in our UNICEF milk cartons. I remember exchanging comments with my sister: “UNICEF IS for children!” And, it was darn difficult to get that candy out of those cartons so we could release the money we’d already collected. The take-away? Money is a taboo subject for many. They don’t want to be asked for it. As fundraisers, we need to overcome that taboo. And, you’ve given a lot of great suggestions.

I will disagree, however, with the idea that only one ask should be made at a time. When an organization is running multiple campaigns folks don’t want to be approached multiple times. They want to make one decision: This is how much I’m going to give; you tell me how you’d like it apportioned. I agree we don’t want to nickel and dime folks at every turn. But, we do want to be respectful of their decision making processes.

By: Michael J. Rosen, CFRE

Michael J. Rosen, CFRE — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 06:50:09 +0000

Richard, thank you for once again commenting. Children see things in ways adults don’t allow themselves to. I shared my childhood experience as a way of helping folks get in touch with their own childhood memories. Most of us learned some core truths at a very young age. It’s good to remind ourselves of that.

By: Richard Freedlund

Richard Freedlund — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:00:35 +0000

Michael,

Enjoyed today’s post. Very timely and very true.

Some of the smartest people I had the pleasure to know were the children I taught many years ago. There is a genuine wisdom in the innocence of youth.

Happy Halloween to you, my friend.