Most educators don’t earn much, so they feel strongly about causes they support.

By Christine Weiser

“Talk about how their gifts will not only assist in reaching the targeted goal financially, but also how they will help send a clear message to the rest of the school community about the broader impact educators can make,” she adds.

She suggests these tips for approaching educators about donations:

Ask for their donations before you reach out to others (such as alumni and parents). This recognizes that teachers play a vital role in the institution’s success. Plus, once support from teachers has been accomplished, the development office has a good talking point when it reaches out to the rest of the organization’s constituents.

Consider approaching educators when they return from summer break and are planning for the year.

Encourage other teachers to help ask. Setting up a faculty annual fund or major-gift committee can be the difference between success and failure for an internal fundraising program.

Christine Weiser is a Philadelphia-based reelance writer and publisher of “Philadelphia Stories,” a nonprofit literary-arts publication.