Simple reminder last week.  I was checking-out after getting a much needed haircut.  The receptionist asked if I wanted to leave a gratuity and I said, “five dollars.”  The woman next to me had just said “five dollars” in response to the same question.  She glanced at me and then changed her mind and said, “make it ten.”  I am not sure if my gratuity influenced her or if she realized my simple haircut on a receding hairline probably cost less than hers.

One of the reasons nonprofit organizations rely on gala fundraisers is that peer pressure adds to their success.  When the auctioneer asks for all the participants to raise their paddle to ‘fund-a-need’ it is hard not to participate.  When everyone at your table is bidding it is hard not to get caught in the moment.  It takes energy to drop-out of bidding for a live auction lot if a spotlight is shining on you.

Most capital campaign fundraising strategy is sequenced.  You start with donor A.  If donor A gives you go to his or her friend donor B and leverage donor A’s gift.  Sometimes you will even take Donor A and B with you to visit the elusive donor C who may make a bigger gift than A and B combined.  If you asked donor C for a gift with no momentum and having not tapped the network of friends you may have never been successful in setting-up a meeting.

Momentum and relationships are important factors in influencing success for your cause.  What can you do to enhance your existing relationships?