Socratic Fundraising: Using questions to advance the donor’s journey

Fundraising often focuses on making “the ask.” But appreciative inquiry uses questions throughout the relationship to help the donor discover their own reasons for making a transformational donation. Professor James starts with the “why” from research, theory, and experience and then moves to the “how” of exactly what questions to ask, in what order, and for what purpose. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of major gift decision processes and plenty of real-world “magic” questions to try out right away.

Additional Resources

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Mastering Major Gifts: How to Persist in the Face of “No”, Shift your focus to the donor, and Use Research to Make the Difference

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Transforming Connections: How The Street Dog Coalition Boosted Donor Engagement Through DonorSearch

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Close More Major Gifts: Use Wealth Screening to Focus on the Right Potential Donors

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