I am on the Board of Directors of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps. Part of being a member of the board involves helping the organization raise money. Boards should have a requirement for gift giving — at the very least the requirement should be that the organization in which you serve is at the top of the list of charitable gifts you make.

AVODAH has a modest give/get. The idea behind a Give/Get is that not everyone has the same amount to give, but everyone can get from others what they can’t give themselves.

Yesterday, AVODAH’s Associate Executive Director and fundraising guru Ilanit Gerblich Kalir, sent a document to all the board members called Top 10 Fundraising Tips. I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you all. The language here is about AVODAH, but the ideas can be adapted to anyone. If you aren’t providing your Board — and for that matter other closely connected constituents — with documents like these you are not maximizing your opportunities.

Top 10 Fundraising Tips

1. Ask. So simple, yet so often overlooked, feared or avoided. You can raise significant sums when you ask for it – and when you don’t ask, you rarely get the support you deserve. Here’s a little trick to remember: Right before you ask someone for a donation to support you and your year in AVODAH, remind yourself of all the good things that will come from that donation. It will go to provide you with the opportunity to help people in need, and to ensure that AVODAH can continue its work too. Remember, you are asking on behalf of others who may not be able to ask for themselves.

2. Start now. Get your fundraising done early so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute. It’s never too soon to ask for a donation! Once you’ve met your goal, keep on asking!

3. Tell your story with passion and enthusiasm. Remember why you are involved in AVODAH. The more excited you are, the more excited your donors will become. It’s infectious!

4. Expand your audience. Include everyone you know on your solicitation list. This is even true for people you haven’t spoken with for awhile. Consider colleagues, friends, family, business acquaintances etc. No one is off limits!

5. Know your facts. Educate yourself about AVODAH and the organizations we work with (not just your own placement). Read all about the extraordinary things our alumni do after their time in AVODAH. The better you understand and can speak about AVODAH and what you’re doing makes such a measurable difference to people, and the more you will attract donations and generate critical awareness.

6. Never make the decision for a donor. Especially when it comes to money, it’s human nature for us to think we know what someone else is thinking or what their circumstances may or may not be. Let each person you solicit make up their own mind as to how (and ultimately how much) they are willing to contribute. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to try and make that decision for them, or worse yet, not even ask: “I know they couldn’t donate. They just don’t have enough money.” You never know who has strong connections to poverty, how it might have touched their lives, or how someone would like to spend his or her money, especially to support you and the work you’re doing! Remember, no one ever gave away their last dime!

7. Ask at least one person for a $1000 donation. Challenge yourself (and have some fun) find at least one person amongst your group of family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances who you believe can make a contribution of $1000 or higher. Plan your ‘ask’ and strategy well, take a deep breath, and make the request. More often than not, you will be surprised by the result(s)!

8. Ask for help. You don’t have to do this alone! The AVODAH staff is available to help answer your questions and support you in ways that we hope will lead you to easily attaining (and exceeding) your fundraising goals. Also, consider turning to your Board members to learn how they are becoming so successful.

9. Take your donors with you on your journey. Remember to send thank you letters to each and every donor. Expressing your gratitude for their generosity will help support future giving.