Q: How am I going to convince my board that asking is okay at these Multiple-Year Giving Society™ pledge levels?
Katherine in California
A: Do not dwell on the levels. Dwell on getting people to the Points of Entry®, including your board members. Our formulas only assume 10% of your Ask Event™ guests will give at the larger multi-year levels. The fourth box on the pledge card lets donors fill in the blanks for their own gift level. We only expect 40 to 50% of Ask Event guests to make any gift at all.
For those board members who do not want to participate in the process, invite them to the Ask Event, seat them with other board members or friends and let them be a part of the whole experience. Do not ask them to be Table Captains.
If the event follows the Benevon Model, they will be so proud of your organization that they will become supporters—and maybe even become Ambassadors—the next year.
For good reason, many board members presume their guests will be pressured to give at the event. Let them observe and enjoy your first Ask Event and they will come along at their own pace.
Remember our golden rule about treating board members as if they are your most cherished major donors. You would never force your most cherished major donors to do anything—you let them determine their own participation.
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