Raising More Money: The Ask Event Handbook [Hardcover]

Terry Axelrod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004

Terry Axelrod's third book, The Ask Event Handbook, teaches nonprofits to build a unique one-hour fundraising event that honors donors and the organization's mission. The Free One-Hour Ask Event is the third step in the comprehensive four-step Raising More Money fundraising system for building sustainable funding from lifelong individual donors.

Learn to construct a one-hour fundraising event that will put your organization on the path to financial sustainability, with the added benefits of creating many new friends and greatly increasing community support. Terry Axelrod, founder of the Raising More Money Model, explains how to create a powerful, emotion-filled event that will inspire and move guests to action.

The Ask Event Handbook provides advice on all aspects of preparing for, carrying out, and following up after the Ask Event. Templates, sample scripts, and outlines are included throughout, along with sample program elements from a variety of successful Raising More Money Workshop alumni organizations, including:

-Visionary Leader Talks -Testimonials -Pitch Scripts -Pledge Cards

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

TERRY AXELROD, CEO and founder of Raising More Money, has over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit field, including founding three nonprofit organizations in healthcare and affordable housing. She realized early in her career that the only path to sustainable funding was to systematically connect donors to the mission of the organization, then involve and cultivate them until they were clearly ready to give—in short, to treat donors the way you would treat a close friend or family member, someone with whom you planned to have a lifelong relationship.

Terry created the Raising More Money Model in 1996 after serving as Development Consultant to Zion Preparatory Academy, an inner city Christian Academy in Seattle, from 1992-1995. There she designed and implemented the fundraising and marketing programs which yielded $7.2 million in 2 ½ years as well as national recognition of the program including a cover story in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Author of three books, Terry is a sought-after speaker, both nationally and internationally. Her passion and commitment to the possibility of sustainable funding for all nonprofits drives the mission of Raising More Money and each of its programs. "The donors are truly out there—wanting to contribute; it's up to the organizations to connect them powerfully to their work and nurture that connection over time. Our programs give them the tools to do that successfully."

Terry currently serves as a Director of the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, a Trustee of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Life Trustee of Swedish Medical Center. She received her Masters of Social Work and Bachelors Degrees at the University of Michigan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 238 pages
• Publisher: Raising More Money Publications (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970045530
• ISBN-13: 978-0970045539
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

TERRY AXELROD, founder and CEO of Benevon, has more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit field, including founding three nonprofit organizations in healthcare and affordable housing. She realized early in her career that the only path to sustainable funding was to systematically connect donors to the mission of the organization, then involve and cultivate them until they were clearly ready to give--in short, to treat donors the way you would treat a close friend or family member, someone with whom you planned to have a lifelong relationship.

Terry created the Benevon Model in 1996 after serving as Development Consultant to Zion Preparatory Academy, an inner city Christian Academy in Seattle, from 1992-1995. There she designed and implemented the fundraising and marketing programs which yielded $7.2 million in 2 ½ years as well as national recognition of the program, including a cover story in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Author of Missionizing Your Special Events, Beyond the Ask Event, the Raising More Money Series, and The Joy of Fundraising, Terry is a sought-after speaker, both nationally and internationally. Her passion and commitment to the possibility of sustainable funding for all nonprofits drives the mission of Benevon and each of its programs. "The donors are truly out there--wanting to contribute; it's up to the organizations to connect them powerfully to their work and nurture that connection over time. Our programs give them the tools to do that successfully."

Terry currently serves as a Life Trustee of Swedish Medical Center and a Lecturer at the University of Michigan, School of Social Work. She received her Masters of Social Work and Bachelors degrees at the University of Michigan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I keep coming back to this book, November 30, 2008

By 

Katherine Wertheim "Kath-" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raising More Money: The Ask Event Handbook (Hardcover)

I read this book in 2006 and keep coming back to it. I think Terry Axelrod's fundraising system is brilliant. Instead of events where most of the money goes to the caterers, her events focus on mission and vision and what the organization is about. Instead of forcing reluctant board members to fundraise, she only asks them to invite their friends to hear what the organization is about. Further, she teaches how organizations can ask for multi-year funding from individuals and get it, which is highly unusual. I've used her system to raise thousands of dollars, and I recommend it frequently. This series of books is terrific and I would recommend them to anyone who wants to raise more money. Terry Axelrod is the fundraiser of the decade as far as I'm concerned.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, November 24, 2008

By 

Hayley E. Hall "celticwords" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raising More Money: The Ask Event Handbook (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book and all of the details in it. It gives you step by step instruction with examples on how to create all of the documents you need, including a script for your event. It doesn't get any easier.