How to Overcome The Fear of Making a Major Gift Ask

In this episode, Mary dives into the number one challenge faced by her major gift coaching clients—fear of making the ask. Whether it’s the fear of rejection or the fear of damaging a relationship, many fundraisers struggle with taking that final step. Mary shares practical strategies to help you confidently make major gift asks, even when fear kicks in. From mindset shifts to cultivation tactics, and knowing when it’s time to ask, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Mary also discusses how to handle objections and what to do if your prospect says no.


Key Takeaways:

• Fear of Rejection is Real: Mary shares her own experiences with the fear of rejection and how getting past that initial "no" helped her grow as a major gift officer.
• Mindset Shifts: Learn how to reframe your thinking from viewing an ask as a withdrawal in the emotional bank account to seeing it as an opportunity for your prospect to make a meaningful impact.
• Cultivation Tactics: Discover the importance of preparing your prospect for the ask by understanding their motivations, interests, and connection to your organization’s mission.
• Permission-Based Fundraising: Mary emphasizes the value of gaining permission for next steps in every interaction to build trust and ensure that the ask won’t be a surprise.
• Handling Objections: Mary provides examples of open-ended questions that can help you understand and address any concerns your prospect might have, reducing the chances of a "no."

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Download: 15 Questions to Ask During Cultivation (https://cultivation.heyfundraiser.com) - These questions will help you deepen your relationship with your prospect and get you closer to a successful ask.
• Schedule a Game Plan Call: Book your free 45-minute call with Mary (https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widge...) to discuss your unique challenges in major gift fundraising and how to overcome them.

Subscribe & Follow:

• If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Hey Fundraiser! podcast so you never miss an episode.
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Connect with Mary:

• Website: www.heyfundraiser.com (https://www.heyfundraiser.com)
• Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

→ Join The Fundraising Collective  (https://heyfundraiser.com/fundraising...)


→ Connect with Mary Petersen on LinkedIn
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💻 Connect with Mary Petersen


• Website: www.heyfundraiser.com

• YouTube: @heyfundraisers (   / @heyfundraisers  )

• Instagram: @heyfundraiser (  / heyfundraiser  )

• LinkedIn: Mary Petersen (  / heyfundraiser  )

• Email: [email protected]


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