The Ask: How to Ask Anyone for Any Amount for Any Purpose

by Laura Fredricks, Susan Earl Hosbach (Foreword by), Jon M. Wagner (Foreword by)

The Ask is a complete resource for teaching anyone—experienced in fundraising or not—how to ask individuals, in person, for a contribution to for a local nonprofit or a special event or community project, an enhanced annual gift, a major or planned gift, or a challenging capital campaign gift. Written by fundraising expert Laura Fredricks, The Ask shows what it takes to prepare yourself and others to make an effective ask and includes over one hundred sample dialogues you can use and adapt. Step by step, the book reveals how to listen, what to say, and how to follow up on each and every ask until you receive a solid and definitive answer. In addition, The Ask covers such topics as how to

Genres: Self Help

252 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2006

Reviews

[Laila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good introductory book for those who are new to the fundraising world. It covers topics such as how to get over your fear of asking for money, how to judge the prospect’s readiness to give to your organization, how to select the right time or the right team to do the ask, and how to prepare for, carry out, and follow up with the ask. It also covers different types of fundraising such as special events, major gifts, planned gifts, and capital campaign. For more experienced fundraising professionals, this book might be a bit elementary, but it nonetheless provides a good refresher of fundraising principles (e.g. be sincere and personal with prospects, treat each prospect separately and distinctly). One shortcoming that I see in this book is that the author assumes that the reader’s organization has an existing donor base and discusses how to transform small donors into major donors. However, she does not discuss how a new organization can form a donor base or how organizations can expand or diversify their existing donor bases.

[Lindsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ask is a very useful book for those who are new to non-profit development. Although the title is a little bit misleading (it's not really about asking for money for ANY purpose), it is practical for almost every aspect of the 'ask' that a development office will come in contact with. I loved the section of suggestions of how to respond to a variety of potential responses.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book and it really has raised my confidence when it comes to asking for money for charitable organizations. It gives me a sense that I am not really overstepping my boundaries when I ask a friend to donate to a cause I believe in. I am just doing my best to help.

[hh · Rating 2 out of 5]

for my principles and practices of fundraising class. some good advice, but it's written in a hokey style (and the copyediting is awful). so so.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for anyone who is going to be doing fundraising of any sort.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great intro to asking for donations. Keeps things basic which could be frustrating for experienced askers but was helpful for this beginner! Lots of good examples.