The donor is so influential, she’ll never talk to me.
One of the reasons I loved being a fundraiser was because it allowed me to associate with some really smart, successful, powerful, and sometimes famous people. I know, it’s shallow—don’t judge me—but it was still a rush.
Honestly, I’m not a fame or wealth chaser. I contacted these individuals because I believed we had a shared interest—supporting a cause we mutually believed in.
Before any initial contact, I carefully vetted the person’s philanthropic interests to ensure compatibility. I researched their connection to my organization, which included trying to identify a person who could make an introduction. And, once I reached out, I respected the process. People of influence, as you know, have people. I was courteous and abided by their rules.
The process worked–I did get many meetings. But this typically involved several conversations with a proxy. Often, I was asked to put my request in writing. And then I followed-up, politely yet persistently. I got to know the representative fairly well and usually established a nice rapport. Eventually, the meeting was scheduled.
So, yes, influential people will talk to you. But there will be times when you don’t get the visit. And it’s not because of you—it’s because your interests didn’t match or weren’t a priority. Or it could be the timing. This is when the relationship with the gatekeeper can come in handy. If you’ve established trust, they will often discuss the reason why you didn’t get the meeting.
Revised fundraising mindset: I have good reason to believe that this person of influence will want to discuss my cause. I will not be discouraged because of their wealth or status. Instead, I will proceed by making my best case.