As part of the process of rating and evaluating prospective donors, you should take into consideration the causes they are known to support or avoid. Except in the case of individual donors, the record is pretty clear. These guidelines also spell out where grants are restricted as to location, type of organization, or content of program. With individual donors, the lines are usually less clearly drawn. Even if an individual has refused to give to a category of request in the past, he or she still might be worth a try, particularly if the circumstances are unusual.
People do change their minds.
However, it is generally wise not to solicit individuals who have made it clear they will not give either to the type of campaign being conducted or its underlying purpose. During his nearly three decades in the field, Tony Poderis has lectured on every aspect of raising funds at more than 300 seminars and workshops in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Inc. All Rights Reserved.