Fundraising Anxiety stops many nonprofit professionals from raising money at their fullest potential. One of the best ways to avoid fundraising anxiety is knowing that it is there and looks different for everyone and identifying what is causing those butterflies when it is time to ask.  

You are going to meet a donor for lunch after time spent previously cultivating the relationship and preparing to ask for support. Now PAUSE and write down how you feel.

Now you are at lunch getting ready to make the request. PAUSE again and write down how you feel.

For me, some of my biggest roadblocks were ME! 

• What would others think?
• Let me prove it works first and get everything to the perfect place
• I will provide what my organization need — it’s easier
• If I ask it, it would appear I am in need

These would stop me from operating at my fullest fundraising potential. When reality is the reason, I make the ask not about ME but about those our organization serves. Once I learned this, I was able to overcome my fundraising anxiety and combat my previous roadblocks. 

• What would others think?
  • How can I support you? How can we support each other?
• Let me prove it works first and get everything to the perfect place
  • We will never reach an ideal place, but having a plan does help
• I will provide what my organization need — it’s easier
  • This does more harm than good and stifles the organization’s growth.
• If I ask, it would appear I am in need
  • Once again, it’s not about me and my needs.

Now going back to lunch with your donor. Next to each of the feelings that you wrote down:

1. Why do you feel this way?
2. If it is a feeling that hinders you from making the ask at your fullest potential, what can you do to prevent this feeling from happening?

Now the next time you need to make the ask, prepare by looking at your list and putting into action methods that will support you in avoiding fundraising anxiety and REMEMBER YOUR WHY DEPENDS ON IT!