I'm Brian Saber, lifelong introvert, successful fundraiser, and author of Introverts can Fundraise!
Introverted Fundraisers Rock!
Why should extroverts have all the fun?
Along with the Loch Ness Monster is the myth that one must be super extroverted to be a fundraiser. That someone must be rather outgoing, glad-handing, and schmoozy. Someone who would show up, as Andy Warhol once said, for the opening of an envelope. Someone akin to the worst stereotype of a car salesman.
Well, I can’t disprove the myth of the Loch Ness monster, but I am living proof that the myth of the extroverted fundraiser is just that. I’m a successful introverted fundraiser. So are many of the finest fundraisers I know.
We don’t fit the stereotype… and we rock!
What makes introverts such a great fit for fundraising?
Successful fundraising is all about building relationships.
We rock because, in fact, fundraising isn’t about glad-handing and schmoozing. It’s about building warm, caring relationships with donors. It’s about learning what matters to them, what they want to accomplish through their philanthropy, and how they see the world.
How do we do that? By asking lots of questions and listening closely.
This is where introverts thrive. In any conversation one is either talking or listening (we hope!). The more talking we do, the less listening we do. If we’re talking, we’re not learning about our donors. They’re learning about us, which has some value for sure, but the goal is to learn about our donors.
Watch a brief video on the power of introverted fundraisers:
How do we leverage our strengths?
Fundraising can be intimidating, especially for introverts. But it doesn't have to be!
I have spent the last decade of my career trying to dispel the myth that only extroverts make good fundraisers. I even went as far as developing the Asking Styles Quiz to help individuals understand how their personality fits in with their fundraising, and how to use it to their advantage.
And that’s why I wrote Fundraising for Introverts. I want to paves the way for creating
a new era of inclusivity and success for introverts in the nonprofit sector.
In my new book, I aim to help introverted fundraisers:
- Overcome their fear of fundraising and make a difference in the world
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It’s time to put to rest the stereotype of a fundraiser, and to understand and extol all the incredible qualities introverted fundraisers bring to the table.
It’s time to break free from the biggest stereotypeholding back the nonprofit world—that onlyextroverts can be successful fundraisers.With clarity and empathy, Brian Saber’sinspiring book paves the way for creatinga new era of inclusivity and success forintroverts in the nonprofit sector.• Introverted fundraisers will findvalidation and inspiration.• Nonprofit leaders will learn how toleverage the strengths of introvertedprofessional and volunteer teammembers.• Passionate advocates will overcomecommon fears and self-doubts thatprevent them from supporting thecauses they love.
The story of
Author / Speaker Brian Saber is a renowned fundraising expert, President of Asking Matters, and a dedicated advocate for charitable causes.
Brian has made significant contributions to the nonprofit world by introducing the introspective tool known as Asking Styles. Through this quick-to-use and easy-to- understand self-discovery quiz, close to 100,000 nonprofit professionals around the globe have learned how to successfully leverage the strengths of their own personalities when soliciting donations—and how to create an inclusive environment for everyone who self-identifies as an introvert.