Socratic Fundraising: Using questions to advance the donor’s journey

Fundraising often focuses on making “the ask.” But appreciative inquiry uses questions throughout the relationship to help the donor discover their own reasons for making a transformational donation. Professor James starts with the “why” from research, theory, and experience and then moves to the “how” of exactly what questions to ask, in what order, and for what purpose. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of major gift decision processes and plenty of real-world “magic” questions to try out right away.

Additional Resources

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Stewardship — An Answer to a Host of Donor, Board, Volunteer, and Staff Issues. Really!

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Frontlines of Social Good 7:1:2025

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