The Myth of the "Big Ask"

"Just ask big!" they say. "Go for the major gift!"

In this episode of Fundraising is Dead, Ryan Dobson dismantles one of the most harmful ideas in nonprofit culture: the myth of the “Big Ask.”

You’ll learn why chasing one giant donation isn't a strategy—it’s a recipe for burnout, lost trust, and donor fatigue. Ryan shares insider stories from his decades of donor development work (including lessons from Focus on the Family and his own experiences with high-net-worth donors) to reveal what actually grows sustainable funding—and what destroys it.

🎯 Why “asking bigger” usually backfires
🎯 What major donors are REALLY looking for
🎯 How you can grow lifetime support without gimmicks or pressure

You don’t need bigger asks—you need deeper relationships.
Subscribe now and find out how real donor development works.

📝 Show Notes:

In this episode:

• Why the “Big Ask” strategy sounds good—but fails most nonprofits
  
  

• How relationship equity builds bigger gifts naturally—without asking
  
  

• What wealthy donors won’t tell you (but Ryan will)
  
  

• Why the best fundraisers act more like friends—and less like salespeople
  
  

• Practical shifts you can make today to move from asks to advocacy
  
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Donor Retention Guide: FundraisingIsDead.com
  
  

Connect with us:

• Website: FundraisingIsDead.com
  
  

• Instagram: @FundraisingIsDead