How often do you or someone at your organization say something like this...

• We should wait before we hit him up again.
• How much can we squeeze out of her?
• What do you think we can get him to cough up?
• I'm going to go after her again later in the year for more.
• If we twist the knife a little more, I'm sure we can get a bigger gift.
• When should we blast them again?

None of this sounds very pleasant. 

Some of it sounds downright violent! 

And it's certainly not something I want to be on the receiving end of. How about you?

Yet, this is how we talk about fundraising all the time. And I use the word "we" because I still find these expressions slipping out every once in a while.

Talking this way isn't necessarily anything you're doing consciously. And it may not feel like a big deal. You may even be rolling your eyes as you read this.

But you know the language we use has power.

How we talk about fundraising speaks volumes about how we feel about it, and even how we feel about donors themselves.

Part of what makes fundraising hard, especially at first, is that most of us live in a culture where money is a taboo topic -- something not to be talked about. 

We are taught things like, "money is the root of all evil." As kids, our parents often scold us if we ask someone how much an item cost. Most of us don't know how much they people we are closet to get paid.

All of this silence and shame around money make fundraising challenging. Talking about money and asking people for donations can be downright scary at first.

And I suspect this discomfort is part of why we end up using expressions like the ones I mentioned above.

I know you're not doing it deliberately or maliciously. But I also know that it's hurting your fundraising.

If this is the way you're talking (even if only behind closed doors), it's affecting how you treat those big-hearted, generous souls who donate to your organization. And not in a good way.

My point is not to shame you. As I said, I still catch myself using these negative descriptions occasionally.

My point is to make you think. I'm hoping this gives you pause the next time you find these words and phrases coming out of your mouth or being spoken by someone at your organization.

Fundraising is noble work. 

Giving money away is a noble act. 

It's time that our language starts to reflect that.