Why the Candidate Needs to Make Calls for Money

Dialing for Dollars they call it and that's just what it is. You dial; they give money. That's the idea anyway. Some candidates think their fundraising committee or campaign manager or random volunteers should do it, and for some things, like small donor events, reminders, follow ups and the like, that's just fine.

But if you want to land a big donation from a major donor, you, the candidate, have to pick up the pone and call. The donors expect it. They want to hear your voice on the other end of the line, not an underling's.  They want your ear to bend on the issues they care about before they untie the purse strings.

Sometimes they want to meet in person first, to size you up, to see how committed you are, to get a look at you. If so, make the time for the meeting. This is where those underlings can come in handy. They can arrange the meeting with the donor, once the initial contact has been made. Sometimes a campaign team member will have the connection to the donor and is the perfect person to introduce you. And sometimes you make a cold call and ask for a meeting.

But if you don't make the call, or take the meeting, you won't get the donation. It's as simple of that.

Donors, like voters, need to be courted. Voters get your mail, meet your volunteers at their door, hear your message on the radio or TV. Donors need to connect with you in person. Or in phone.

Make the call.