海角大神

This column is part of an occasional series about how you, too, can make a difference. It is written by the head of our partner organization UniversalGiving, which helps people give and volunteer in more than 100 countries.

You might not be a professional fundraiser, but that doesn鈥檛 mean you won鈥檛 be helping to raise funds!

It happens all the time. The school your child attends might have a drive to fund a science retreat. Your university asks you to help raise capital for a project, such as a new teaching position. Your neighbor is soliciting funds for his autistic child, which will also benefit a local autism program. Can you secure five new donors for him?

Let鈥檚 be prepared. Here are five pointers:

1. Develop the relationship first. Fundraising is never really about money. It鈥檚 about the opportunity to support a cause and support the individual who is asking you.

To be a good fundraiser, we should define people by their qualities of intelligence, kindness, generosity, and caring. You鈥檒l have a community of friends for a lifetime. You鈥檒l have sincere conversations and experience support when you need it (and give it when it鈥檚 needed). Then if it鈥檚 right, there may be a time to request a donation from someone.

2. Don鈥檛 鈥減itch鈥� anyone. Language is important both when you are speaking to funders and when you are speaking about them, perhaps preparing for a meeting.

We should choose words carefully. For example, I try never to say 鈥減itch.鈥� We shouldn鈥檛 be 鈥減itching someone on something.鈥� We should be sharing an experience in a heartfelt way. This kind of sharing motivates people to give.

3. Raise funds at any time of year. So many people focus on fundraising at the end of the year. But again, fundraising is about building relationships 鈥� over the long term.

Crises such as hurricane Harvey or the plight of the Rohingya do not necessarily happen at the end of the year. Giving can take place at any time.

4. Be humble when you ask. I鈥檇 like to share an interesting story that recently happened. We have a requirement at UniversalGiving for each member of the board to make a $20,000 commitment. One member said he was not able to do it. First, I thanked him for all his wisdom and advice over the years. I expressed that we did not want to lose him.

Then I told him how we were hoping to have full board participation 鈥� that every board member give something. And I humbly asked, Would he be able to give $25?

What happened next was a wonderful surprise. The person came back saying he鈥檇 be happy to back us 鈥� to the tune of $5,000! We were so grateful. If you make a humble request, you might be pleasantly surprised.

5. Don鈥檛 be discouraged. What happens if you ask and nothing happens? Well, that鈥檚 not necessarily the case. For one thing, you鈥檒l never know how people are moved by what you say. They鈥檙e glad to know about the cause you鈥檝e taken up; they鈥檙e more educated about a world issue.

Be aware, too, there are many reasons someone might not give. Some high net-worth donors have their funds tied up in one asset. Or they might have their own cause. We should respect their choices.

If there鈥檚 no response to your request, it is certainly fine to follow up. If you still don鈥檛 hear anything, you can try a softer approach. Send a positive update or an article about your cause. You鈥檝e started building a relationship. In time, the person may begin giving after he or she has seen progress.

To be a good fundraiser, you have to care about the cause as well as the people. Enjoy building these relationships!

鈥� Pamela Hawley is the founder and chief executive officer of . She is a recipient of the Jefferson Award 鈥� the Nobel Prize of community service. She also writes the blog 鈥�.鈥�