Lessons from a seasoned freelance fundraiser
Having been self-employed since late 2010, Beth Upton has ten top tips for anyone considering the freelance lifestyle, all drawn from her experience over the years.
Having been self-employed since late 2010, Beth Upton has ten top tips for anyone considering the freelance lifestyle, all drawn from her experience over the years.
We do not work on a commission basis. Nor will we work on a no-win-no-fee basis. There are lots of reasons for that – it is frowned upon by our sector body, it offers temptation for poor practice, it exploits the weak, it misunderstands the fundamental team effort that is fundraising.
Say thank you. Regardless of what the donor says. And listen hard for what the donor means when they say “no need to thank me” in case they mean “don’t make a fuss” or “don’t tell people” but would love for you to say thank you!
It is less risky to ask for a gift when you know the person is likely to say yes. Learning how to read the signs of another person’s likelihood to give is sometimes tricky and sometimes really obvious. But fundamentally it is the asking that is the secret: if you don’t ask you definitely won’t get!
Being heard is a vital element of feeling comfortable in a relationship – and that includes the relationships we talk about with our donors in fundraising.
no, but… is a conversation killer. The only come back is to disagree and that isn’t going to build a useful conversation.