A colleague reminded me today that you never get the contribution you hope for if you ask for less than your goal.  How many times has an organization hoped a donor would give $1,000 or even $1,000,000 but been afraid to ask for the full amount?  Often they get a gift more in-line with the amount they request.  If you believe the need is real, the opportunity aligns with the donor’s values, and the capacity of the donor is verified then ask for the full amount.

It sounds like a simple strategy but every meeting needs a person who can make the request.  Do you have an ‘asker’ on your team?  Do they get results and do they enjoy the process?  Consider your enterprise well served if you have a team of talented fundraisers.