| Whether it's a crusade to end hunger, a campaign to | | | | accomplishments in your introduction unless you |
| eradicate cancer, or walking to advance AIDS | | | | cover that in your actual talk. I sat in the audience of |
| research - your message is one of the most | | | | a fundraising event one time and that's exactly what |
| important, if not THE most important element during | | | | I heard: a business introduction that was unrelated to |
| your fundraising drive. Your message gathers | | | | the speech. As the intro was read, the audience was |
| everyone together as one team that will make an | | | | in a state of suspended animation. They were |
| impact for another team: the victims who are | | | | probably thinking, "If she's so successful, why do I |
| suffering from one type of malady or deficiency. | | | | need to donate?" |
| And one of the most powerful ways to get your | | | | Next, let's have... |
| message across is speaking at a fundraising event. | | | | 2) A message that's congruent to the theme. The |
| You get to share your message and vision to a | | | | event organizer may have an event theme in mind |
| captivated audience. At that exact moment in time, | | | | that's disconnected from your message. Your job is |
| you have the power to move them from inaction to | | | | to connect your message to that theme. Not the |
| action. It's very important to know how to | | | | other way around. Unless your message takes |
| communicate your message. | | | | prominence in time and importance. |
| From the moment you make your way toward the | | | | I sat at a benefit concert where the star entertained |
| stage, you are already communicating. What you | | | | for two hours. The speaker spoke for five minutes |
| wear, how you carry yourself, and how you position | | | | and never connected her message with that event's |
| yourself in the introduction sends a clear message to | | | | theme. Had she made the connection to the event |
| your audience. Are you open, relaxed and | | | | theme, the audience would have connected the |
| approachable? Are you smiling, shaking hands and | | | | entertainment to her message. |
| giving hugs? | | | | And finally, you should make it a habit to... |
| And then it's showtime... | | | | 3) Read your audience. Are you losing them? Can |
| Your audience is ready to receive you. You'll either | | | | you shift gears to bring them back around? Were |
| connect with them instantly or else you'll have to | | | | they ever with you in the first place? |
| claw your way back into their good graces. This | | | | If your audience becomes still, quiet, with an air of |
| usually occurs during your opening. | | | | indifference-watch out. That's a sure sign there's a |
| Your opening must engage their hearts and minds. | | | | direct disconnect. And that usually translates to a |
| They must realize you are involved in a cause for | | | | disconnect with their pocketbooks. |
| some greater good that you alone cannot tackle. In | | | | I witnessed one speaker cram too much information |
| short, they want to know why they should support | | | | into her talk. Instead of leading her audience of |
| your foundation. | | | | potential donors on a journey of possibilities-she |
| Let's focus on three keys that will open people to | | | | suffocated them. Touching people's hearts still works |
| support your cause: | | | | better than information overload. |
| 1) A proper introduction. Why is this important? | | | | Speaking for a cause can be a meaningful and fulfilling |
| Because your introduction lays the foundation for | | | | experience for you. It can provide you with an inner |
| what you and your audience are there for. It also | | | | satisfaction that you won't find with anything else. |
| sets the tone and feeds into your opening. | | | | Why not speak up for a cause today? |
| Please don't include a list of all your business | | | | |