Making the Ask

Asking for money is never an easy task. The key to approaching any of your co-workers about making a pledge is to be prepared. If you don’t know the answer to a question, acknowledge it and get back to them with an answer. It is common to be nervous and feel uncomfortable doing it, but we've made a list of tips to help ease your worries.

Six Major Elements of Personal Ask

1. Be ready

Become familiar with the information provided to you. Know the needs of your community and which charities meet which needs in order to help employees match their interests to charities and "what your dollars can be used for."

2. Be confident

Be proud to offer the opportunity to participate in the campaign. Know your own feelings and why you are choosing to support the campaign.


3. Explain

Give details about your campaign and information about how to help charities do great work in the community. If you have any employee testimonials, this would be a great opportunity to share them.


4. Listen

Be willing to take and answer questions. Learn how to distinguish objections from excuses. Excuses can be turned into positives. If you don't know an answer, feel free to contact a staff member of Community Shares of Mid Ohio.


5. Ask for a commitment

Promote workplace giving as the easy and painless way to give. Remind them that workplace contributions provide steady, continual funding to charities throughout central Ohio.


6. Say "thank you"

Regardless of whether or not they made a donation, always say thank you.

Handling Objections

While talking to some of your co-workers you may encounter some objections to your request for them to participate in your company's workplace fundraising campaign. Here are some helpful tips on how to deal with those objections:

• The potential donor is not attacking you so do not take their objections personally.
• Most people want additional information. Spending a few extra minutes answering their questions may get them to commit to a pledge.
• Be understanding and empathetic when not in agreement.
• Try to encourage conversation about the concern without being confrontational.
• Be tactful and confident that you know how to handle the objection.