Feeling nervous about fundraising? These 4 tips can help



4 Tips for Overcoming
Your
Fear of Fundraising

Read time: 4 Minutes

Let’s be real: fundraising can feel intimidating, especially when it’s time to ask for money.

Your heart’s racing, your palms are sweaty, and suddenly that coffee meeting with a potential donor feels more like a high-stakes pitch.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, in one of my recent Fundraising 101 videos, we talk about why fundraising activates a stress response (yep, science!) and how to start shifting your mindset so asking for money feels less scary and more meaningful.

In this week’s issue of Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, I’m sharing a few key takeaways to help you work through the fear of fundraising, so you can build more authentic donor connections, with way less pressure.

🎥 Want the full deep-dive? Watch the full episode here

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Let's get curious:

Tip 1: Understand why fundraising feels so scary (it’s not just you)

If your stomach drops every time you think about asking someone for money, there’s a reason.

Fundraising, especially the moment you make the ask, can trigger a stress response in your body. According to fundraising expert Mallory Erickson (featured in the video), that fear often comes from a mix of personal vulnerability, the risk of rejection, and the high stakes of wanting your mission to succeed.

For many of us, there’s another layer: we were raised to believe that talking about money is taboo. One study found that 62% of Americans avoid money conversations entirely, and 1 in 4 were even taught it’s rude to bring it up. So if fundraising feels uncomfortable, it’s likely you’re carrying around money beliefs you didn’t even realize you had.

💡 Try this: Ask yourself: What messages did I grow up hearing about money and asking for support? Getting clear on your own money story is a powerful first step toward becoming a more confident fundraiser.


Tip 2: Reframe the Fear

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a fundraiser,” or felt like asking for money was pushy or uncomfortable, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: fundraising isn’t about begging. It’s actually about offering someone the opportunity to be part of something meaningful.

My BEST conversations with donors were personal, fun, and about topics they were interested in that were actually unrelated to making a donation (cute dogs, philosophy, you name it). I focused on getting to know them as humans, not selling them on the cause.

It’s all about shifting from transactional fundraising (like selling something) to transformational fundraising, where the goal is connection, not just cash.

So, instead of thinking, “I’m asking for something awkward.”
Try thinking, “I’m inviting someone to make an impact.”

When you reframe the ask this way, it becomes less about the money and more about what the money makes possible. People want to feel useful, generous, and hopeful. Fundraising gives them a way to do that.

💡 Try this: Before your next ask, write down how the donor’s gift will help create real change. Focus on the transformation and what their support will actually make possible.

Tip 3: Explore Your Money Mindset

A lot of our fear around fundraising doesn’t start with the ask. It starts with how we feel about money.

Personally, I found that the way I grew up thinking about money was still showing up when I was fundraising. Maybe you can relate?

If talking about money wasn’t normal for you, asking for it, especially on behalf of a cause you care deeply about, can feel extra uncomfortable.

When I finally took a step back and asked myself, "Where did these feelings come from?" It made a huge difference. Our experiences, our culture, and even our past jobs can all shape our beliefs about money, and we carry that into every donor conversation.

💡 Try this: Talk with a fellow fundraiser or trusted peer about how they’ve worked through their own mindset around money. Sometimes hearing someone else’s experience makes it easier to process your own—and reminds you that you’re not alone in this.


Tip 4: Reframe fundraising as a partnership, not a pitch

Here’s something I’ve learned after years of asking for donations: the best fundraising moments don’t feel transactional—they feel like partnerships.

When we make fundraising all about the money, we forget what it’s really about: giving someone the opportunity to invest in something that matters.

Everything changed when I started thinking of fundraising as offering someone a chance to be part of the impact. It wasn’t about convincing or persuading, it was about inviting someone into something meaningful.

And in today’s world, being asked to be a part of something that matters really is a gift.

💡 Try this: Next time you’re preparing to make an ask, pause and reframe it in your mind: “I’m not begging, I’m offering someone a chance to do good in the world.” Notice how that simple shift changes how you feel.

Try It This Week! 🚀

Remember, having fundraising nerves is totally normal, and you can shift the way you feel, one small step at a time.

This week, try one of the strategies we talked about:

→ Reflect on your money story.
→ Reframe an upcoming fundraising conversation as an invitation, not a pitch.
→ Or practice saying out loud why your cause is worth investing in.

And if you’re ready for a deeper dive, check out this video on overcoming the fear of fundraising, it’s one of the most personal and powerful ones I’ve made yet.

Do you have a fundraising mindset tip? Hit reply and share. I’d love to hear what it is!

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I'm Amber, writer of the Changemaker Mondays newsletter! I'm a nonprofit founder, speaker, and social entrepreneur on a mission to equip you with the tools you need to create positive change where ever you live -- whether you're starting a nonprofit or socially-conscious business, looking for a social impact job, or leading a volunteer project in your city. Don't hesitate to connect (socials below), or reply to this email if you ever have any feedback on how we can make Changemaker Mondays the best newsletter for supporting changemakers in the world!

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Amber Melanie Smith

I am on a mission to equip nonprofit and social impact changemakers with the tools and resources to grow their impacts. Join me and over 73,000 changemakers on my social impact-focused YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ambermelaniesmith!

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