Just Slightly Contrarian: Hey, Will You Give a Guy a Lift?

5. Offer a money-back guarantee! Am I daft? A money-back guarantee? Why not? Is a nonprofit organization so sanctimonious as to think that it never, ever makes a mistake or displeases a donor? Test it sometime. Obviously, your boss is going to hate the idea, and so will the chairman of the board and all of the directors and the staff and the business office. But, what the hell, stop trying to be popular. If you’re sensitive, you’re in the wrong field … and it never hurts to try.

6. Have a celebrity sign the lift note. Maybe just a couple of paragraphs. Maybe a little stamp-sized photo. An endorsement. A device to give the prospective donor a feeling of confidence before she reads the letter.

7. Puff up your splendid reputation. Has your organization ever won the Nobel Peace Prize? Or been honored by a U.S. president? Or featured on “The Today Show”? If you’re impressive, then puff it. If you’re not … at least sound impressive. Surely, you’re doing something better than anyone else.