Author Name:
Brian Saber
Book Title:
Asking Styles: Revolutionize Your Fundraising
Website URL:
Link to book page on Amazon:
Asking Styles: Revolutionize Your Fundraising
Social Media Links:
LI: Brian Saber
Twitter: BrianSaber
What is your book about?
Fundraising face-to-face is about relationships, and that means who we are as askers is important to understand. If we play to our strengths rather than trying to be something we’re not, we can be more comfortable and more successful askers.
What inspired you to write your book?
I’ve been a major gift fundraiser my whole career, and I am well aware of how difficult the work is for most people. With that in mind I developed the Asking Styles, which have proven to be a great “aha” moment for thousands of fundraisers. I wrote the book to codify the material and bring it to the field in more depth.
If you have a business related to your book, tell us about it:
I run Asking Matters, the largest online resource on asking for charitable gifts face-to-face. I have an online membership, conduct webinars, coach clients, lead trainings and present at conferences.
What is a typical day like for you?
There is no typical day. Some weeks involve travel around the country to train and present. Others have me at my desk for a combination of consulting by phone, leading webinars, writing blog posts, etc. Other times I’m face-to-face with clients, providing consulting and direction.
What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I love helping the non-profit world to thrive. These days, given the pandemic, nonprofits are struggling and I’m happy to be in the fight for survival with them. I also feel fortunate to work with incredibly fine, giving people – staff, volunteers, donors and more, who all want to make the world a better place.
What are some favorite books you’d recommend to our readers?
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking (Susan Cain), Asking (Jerold Panas), Dreyer’s English (Benjamin Dreyer)
What advice do you have to offer our readers?
Hmmm…follow your dream and be honest with yourself.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a tried and true introvert. I present as a confident, articulate, socially-capable person, and people misconstrue that as extroversion. I think they might finally believe it now that we’re figuring out our way through the pandemic. I live alone, spend most of my time alone, and am much more content than most around me.
What’s next for you?
Book two is coming out this summer. It’s about Asking Styles and how you can use them to develop a more effective and cohesive non-profit board of directors.
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