How the Boys and Girls Club Encourages Volunteers to Make Face-To-Face Visits

Here’s what my new friend Dovie Prather of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America has to say about face-to-face “asks.”

Dovie is a true believer in the person-to-person appeal. She told me that she coaches her volunteers with these words:  “Don’t be shy about looking in your prospect’s eye and asking!”

I met Dovie at the Boys and Girls Club of America NE Leadership Conference where I gave a plenary presentation last week. I asked her about the BGCA’s year-end fundraising strategies.

Here’s how she motivates her volunteers to go out and visit people one-on-one to ask for support:

“While the recession has hurt many people, some people ARE still making money in the recession. We are still there for our community. The kids still need a place to go where people care about them. Our doors are still open for any kid who needs help.

You MUST go to your regular supporters with an annual ask.”

That’s a lesson for all of us:  go to the loyal donors we’ve always depended on. Those folks who we KNOW believe in our cause and our mission.

And what will we find?

They will still be there for us.

Dovie told me that their annual campaign strategy RELIES on the face to face appeal.

And when you are thinking that all those donors out there are feeling pinched and nervous about the economy, just remember this:

“It only takes ONE DONOR to make a difference in the life of a child.”

Tagged as: inspiration, Soliciting gifts, Year-End Fundraising Strategies