Fundraising Styles: Why You’re Not Bad at Asking—You’re Just Doing It Wrong (for You)”

Hey nonprofit leader—what’s keeping you awake at night?

Is it the nagging feeling that your board isn’t pulling its weight in fundraising? Or worse, that you aren’t pulling yours? Let’s bust a myth: it’s not that you or your board members are bad at fundraising. You’re just trying to do it in a style that doesn’t suit you. That’s like asking a turtle to win a tap-dancing contest.

Let me introduce you to a little wisdom from my friend, Brian Saber, founder of Asking Matters: Asking Styles. It’s a simple tool that helps you—and your board—figure out how to fundraise in a way that actually works with your personality. Think of it as Myers-Briggs for people who lose sleep over development plans.

Here’s the breakdown:

The Rainmaker

Analytic ExtrovertYou’ve already color-coded your donor spreadsheet and have questions about last quarter’s ROI. You’re strategic, data-driven, and probably have a PowerPoint for every meeting. Your motto? “What’s the goal?”You’re great at making the case, but remember: not everyone thinks in charts and bar graphs.

The Go-Getter

Intuitive ExtrovertYou're the hype person. You bring energy, charisma, and big-picture vision. Planning? Not so much. But your enthusiasm is infectious—and it opens doors. Your motto? “What’s the opportunity?”Just don’t forget to follow through after the confetti settles.

The Kindred Spirit

Intuitive IntrovertYou lead with heart. You joined the board because the mission speaks to your soul, not because you love donor calls. You’d rather write a heartfelt email than make a fundraising pitch. Your motto? “What moves my heart?”Lean into storytelling. People give to people with passion—not just polish.

The Mission Controller

Analytic IntrovertYou ask the tough questions like, “Where’s the plan?” and “What’s the backup plan?” and “Who owns this deadline?” You bring structure and systems. Your motto? “What’s the plan?”You shine with the right tools—just don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis.

Most people aren’t one-dimensional—we all have a dominant style and a strong secondary. Knowing your style (and that of your board members) can make your fundraising more effective and more comfortable. Because if we’re honest, most board members aren’t terrified of fundraising—they’re terrified of fundraising like a Rainmaker when they’re a Kindred Spirit.

So what’s the fix? Get everyone to take the Asking Styles assessment. Then, have a conversation about how to fundraise in ways that honor each person’s natural strengths.

·      Rainmakers can handle the metrics.

·      Go-Getters can rally the troops.

·      Kindred Spirits can write stories and make one-on-one asks.

·      Mission Controllers can create the donor stewardship system you’ve always wanted.

So nonprofit leader, what’s keeping you awake at night?

Maybe it’s the belief that fundraising has to look one way. It doesn’t.

Sleep better tonight knowing that your style—and your board’s styles—can work for you, not against you. Fundraising isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s more like a really great team kata: everyone has a role, and when they play it well, it’s poetry in motion.