If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times, “I hate asking for money.”
No kidding! Who woke up when they were five years old and said, “When I grow up, I want to ask people for money”?
Why, I thought I’d be an Academy Award winning actress (‘tis true), not someone who would encourage people to ask folks for their precious financial resources.
But you know what? I love what I do.
Why?
Because I’ve seen joy on the face of a person who has given to an amazing cause.
How do you overcome your own fear – or is it embarrassment? – when it comes to asking for money? Remember…
- It’s not about you. You must get over whatever guilt, shame, and negative family memories that are holding you back. Focus on the person who wants to give you money…they just need to be asked.
- It’s about relationships. No one wants to be seen as a bank. The first time you meet someone it should not be to ask for a gift (how rude!). Go for a cup of coffee. Discover what brings them joy. Why do they come to your church? What are their hopes and dreams for your congregation? Be curious. Listen far more than you talk.
- It’s about how your mission aligns with your donor’s mission. If you know the “why” of your church, your confidence will be evident when you ask a potential mission investor for a donation. Don’t forget, it’s not just your vision or the donor’s vision, it’s a shared vision.
One of the secular world’s favorite development authors is the late Jerry Panas. In his book Asking, he says:
Keep in mind, too, that your [church] doesn’t have needs. People have needs.
Your [church] has the answer, the solution to problems and challenges.
Don’t sell needs – sell your answer, your response, your successful solutions.
Friends, I’m with you.
Asking people for money can be nerve wracking.
I’ve been known to thoroughly clean my house (and believe me, that’s a big task) before making a phone call to a potential donor. But I’m only afraid if I focus on how the call will impact me. If I turn my thoughts to the important, life-changing reasons I am asking for a donation – I still may need to take a deep breath but– the ask becomes easier.
And…if I envision that the person I am asking wants to invest in our mission (and thus become a mission investor) I become excited to help someone meet their calling to engage in ministry.
Dear Reader, my prayer for you is that the phrase “I hate asking for money” will soon be replaced by, “Guess what? I’m inviting you into work that can change the world.”
You can do it.
story by Cesie Delve Scheuermann, consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing, Oregon-Idaho AC,
United Methodist Church Giving is about people working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. In so doing, we effect change around the world, all in the name of Jesus Christ. To read stories about the generosity of United Methodists click here.
