You know you should be asking for major gifts. You believe in the mission. You've done the cultivation. And then you get to the moment that matters and you freeze. What to Say gives you the exact words. Written by major gift expert Mary Petersen who has closed gifts up to nine figures and coached hundreds of fundraisers to do the same this book hands you 12 proven ask scripts for the most important, most feared moments in major gift fundraising. Not theory. Not frameworks. The actual sentences. Inside, you'll find language for: • Making your first major gift ask with confidence • Asking for a specific, ambitious amount without apologizing for it • Navigating hesitation, silence, and "I need to think about it" • Re-engaging a lapsed donor who has gone quiet • Asking for a planned gift, a multi-year commitment, and more Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser who freezes at the ask or a new development director trying to find your footing, What to Say will change the way you walk into donor meetings forever. The words are right here. Now go use them.
