The document discusses different strategies for fundraising for the arts, emphasizing the importance of the arts in building a civilized society and highlighting quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., William Shakespeare, and Mark Twain. It provides tips for crafting effective fundraising pitches through brevity, elevator speeches, relationship building, demonstrating a clear understanding of the organization's goals and credibility.

1. THE ASK
Fundraising for the Soul
“While roads and bridges make us a civilization, the arts make us
civilized. They provide an element to life that defies description
and, without which, we would be poorer.” Martin Luther King

2. THE FAST PITCH
“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
William Shakespeare

3. THE ELEVATOR SPEECH
“I didn’t have the time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead. “
Mark Twain

4. THE SOUL HUNGERS TO BE SEEN
AND HEARD:
WHY GIVE TO THE ARTS?
“Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts,
the book of their deeds, the book of their words, and the book of
their art. Not one of these books can be understood unless we read
the two others, but of the three the only trustworthy one is the last.”
–John Ruskin (1884)

5. THE ARTS NEED YOU
TO BE THE VOICE OF CLARITY
YOU
Why
ARTS
Passion
Capacity
Commitment
Community
Collaboration

6. THE ART OF THE ASK
BEGINS WITH RELATIONSHIP
Personal
Sincerity
Common Ground
Communicate
PEOPLE GIVE BECAUSE
OF YOU

7. KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO
B A C K PA C K SKILLS
Knowledge of the organization
Clearly defined goals
Assurance of Cost Effectiveness
Credibility Confidence
Communication Listen
Probe
WHY ARE YOU INVOLVED?

8. THE ASK
KNOWING WHICH PATH TO TAKE AND
WHEN TO TAKE IT
“If you don’t know where you are going, then it doesn’t matter
what road you take. “ The Cheshire Cat