EP90: Getting Over the Ask - it's for the kids!

Jeanne Malgioglio has been running Binky Patrol's Connecticut chapter for years, and she's figured out something a lot of volunteers never do: how to ask for money without hating every second of it. In this episode, Susan Finch sits down with Jeanne to talk through what actually works when it comes to local fundraising — and what's mostly a waste of time.

Jeanne shares why she skips the big community foundation grant cycles (too many hoops, too many closed windows) and goes straight to Rotary clubs, utility companies, car dealerships, and local businesses that want to be part of something good. She walks through how she builds her outreach letters — short, authentic, and focused on a specific urgent need — and why she tailors each one rather than sending a generic blast.

They also dig into the power of Facebook community pages and neighborhood groups, how to make your events visible without being pushy, and how the next generation of volunteers — including students — are already taking initiative and learning to fundraise on their own.

If your chapter needs materials or money and you're not sure where to start, this one's for you.