Harvey Ward

1.) Tell EVERYBODY. Presumably you're excited about the organization for which you're raising money. Don't be afraid to let it show - in person, on the phone, in your emails -everywhere. Enthusiasm is no guarantee of success, but a lack of enthusiasm makes it hard to succeed.

2.) Write a plan. Write down financial goals for three months, one year and five years. Then work backwards to find out how you're going to get there.

3.) Call a prospect and ask them for a donation. Now. Don't put it off. Don't even finish the plan before you do it. Call somebody else who cares about the organization and tell them you need a check for $(you fill in the amount). Sometimes it really IS that easy - and after you've done it once you will have started the ball rolling.

What you must remember is that the ultimate act of fundraising is the ask. Do number three over and over and over and over again. Start now.