Artful Asker

Artful Asker is a term in Dr. Douglas Lawson's book "Give to Live". He states "Philanthropy is the mystical mingling of a joyful giver, an artful asker, and a grateful recipient".   That's a wonderful way of debunking the stereotyped "run for the hills" attitude of people when it comes to volunteering for the fund-raising committee of a  non-profit organization (or Stewardship Committee at the church).

Lawson says the "Artful Asker is the most exciting and rewarding of all [tasks]".  I admit that I historically "hated" fund raising and still fear the job of asking. In business this is the job of selling.  But artful asking is not "selling" - it is the privilege of offering to someone else the "joy of giving". 

Artful askers are the engine of the philanthropic spirit.  Gentlemen - start your engines.