Episode Summary:
Raise your hand if you’ve ever walked out of a donor meeting thinking, “Oh my gosh, I totally messed that up.” 🙋‍♀️ We've all been there! Asking for a major gift can feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I break down the five biggest solicitation mistakes I see fundraisers make every single day—and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re struggling with when to ask, what to say, or how to handle donor objections, this episode is packed with real-life strategies to help you make stronger asks and close bigger gifts.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✅ Why asking too soon can cost you the gift (and how to fix it)
✅ How to make your donor meetings feel like a conversation—not a monologue
✅ The #1 mistake that leads to vague, unconvincing asks (and how to make yours clear & compelling)
✅ What to say when a donor hesitates or pushes back
✅ Why following up is a must—even if the answer is “I need to think about it”

Mistakes Covered in This Episode:
🚨 Mistake #1: Asking Too Soon – Why 90% cultivation, 10% ask is the magic ratio
🚨 Mistake #2: Talking Too Much – How to get the donor to do most of the talking (and why silence after the ask is golden)
🚨 Mistake #3: Not Being Clear About the Ask – How to structure your ask so the donor knows exactly what you’re requesting
🚨 Mistake #4: Not Handling Objections Well – Why objections are NOT rejections (and how to turn a no into a maybe, and a maybe into a yes)
🚨 Mistake #5: Failing to Follow Up – The easiest way to leave money on the table

Resources & Links:
📌 FREE Objection Handling Guide – Listen to the Podcast HERE
📌 15 Best Questions to Ask Donors During Cultivation – Download HERE
📌 Connect with Me on LinkedIn – Let’s talk fundraising! Connect & Follow Me HERE

Your Next Steps:
🎧 Loved this episode? Leave a review and let me know your biggest takeaway!
📢 Share this episode with a fellow fundraiser who could use a confidence boost before their next big ask.
📩 Got a question or topic request? Send me a voice message here: [Insert SpeakPipe Link]

Thanks for listening, fundraiser! Go out there and make some magic happen. 🚀✨

Welcome to the first podcast of 2025! Starting a new year can feel like both a blank slate and a daunting challenge—especially when your fundraising total resets to zero. But don’t worry, fundraiser, we’ve got you covered.

In this episode, we break down how to approach your annual fundraising goals with clarity, strategy, and confidence. You’ll learn:

1. How to divide your big fundraising goal into actionable quarterly milestones.
2. The importance of maintaining a prospect list full of ready-to-close donors.
3. How to build work-back plans for each prospect to keep you on track.
4. How to account for life’s distractions, from gala season to vacation time.
5. Why quarterly reviews are critical to staying proactive and hitting your targets.

Whether your fiscal year aligns with the calendar or not, this episode is packed with tips and tricks to help you tackle your goals head-on and stay flexible as life happens.

Resources Mentioned:

• Download your FREE Major Gift Fundraising Planner here

Got a big fundraising goal for 2025? Let’s tackle it together! Listen to the full episode, and don’t forget to share this podcast with a fellow fundraiser who could use a motivational boost.

Major Donor Meeting Mastery:

If you want to lean in to how to set yourself up for getting to the ask quicker and having deeper relationships, check out this $47 masterclass.

Subscribe & Follow:

• If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Hey Fundraiser! podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Join Mary in the Major Gift Fundraisers Facebook Group for more fundraising tips, funny moments, and promotional content.

Connect with Mary:

• Website: www.heyfundraiser.com
• Email: mary@heyfundraiser.com

→ Join The Fundraising Collective

→ Connect with Mary Petersen on LinkedIn
→ Join our Private Facebook Group

→ Schedule Your Free Gameplan Call with Mary

It should not take you more than a year to close a major gift. The days of cultivating for 18+ months is OVER. I hope this story inspires you to:

• embrace permission-based fundraising
• trim your portfolio so that you have 40-60 qualified prospects
• go deeper with fewer prospects, as opposed to shallow efforts with hundreds of prospects

Send a voicemail to Mary: https://www.speakpipe.com/heyfundraiser

Major Donor Meeting Mastery:

If you want to lean in to how to set yourself up for getting to the ask quicker and having deeper relationships, check out this $47 masterclass.

Subscribe & Follow:

• If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Hey Fundraiser! podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Join Mary in the Major Gift Fundraisers Facebook Group for more fundraising tips, funny moments, and promotional content.

Connect with Mary:

• Website: www.heyfundraiser.com
• Email: mary@heyfundraiser.com

→ Join The Fundraising Collective

→ Connect with Mary Petersen on LinkedIn
→ Join our Private Facebook Group

→ Schedule Your Free Gameplan Call with Mary