Is Asking for a Gift the Next Right Thing?
Summary:
Are you about to ask someone for a gift? Maybe the meeting is already on the calendar… but before you make the ask, Clark wants you to pause and reflect.
In this episode, Clark shares a powerful mindset shift that can elevate your fundraising from transactional to transformational: asking not because you need the money, but because it’s the next right thing in the relationship.
You’ll hear the story of Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy, a children’s theater program that transformed its fundraising strategy through this principle. Plus, Clark brings in inspiration from an unlikely source—Frozen II—to remind us that when the path feels unclear, our job is simply to take the next right step.
What You’ll Learn:
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Why asking “Do we need the money?” is the wrong question
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A better litmus test: “Will this ask serve the donor?”
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How to build long-term relational abundance, not just hit financial targets
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The donor-centric power of asking only when it deepens the relationship
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How a children’s theater used mentorship—and music—to raise more and serve better
Quotable Moment:
“We need to only ask for a gift if we can say that asking is the next right thing.”
Links & Resources:
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Want help discerning your next right move with a donor? Try the AI-powered Clarkbot at MajorGiftsFundraiser.com
Take Action:
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Have a question or want to workshop a donor relationship? Email Clark directly at Clark@MajorGiftsFundraiser.com
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If this episode helped you reframe your thinking, please rate and review the podcast. Your support helps us reach more mission-driven fundraisers.
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Want to level up your skills fast? Check out our 5-day course on writing high-performing appeal letters—available now at MajorGiftsFundraiser.com