Should I cross the line and ask....?

Question

I work for a non-profit that is medium sized and having some major finacial difficulties. We are a great organization that needs to grow, but struggling. We have a donor that is willing to match $1,000 donations. So that is wonderful news
Heres my question...
My brother is currently dating very seriously the sister of a major league ball player. I have never met her, or the major league player. They live across the country and are all close with one another. I want to see if my brother would either ask, or put me in touch with the ball player to so that I could ask for atleast the $1000 donation from him. I am pretty sure my brother would feel uncomfortable doing that, but know I could persuade him to do it. My family all presumes that at some point my brother will marry this girl...so if me asking a potential inlaw for a donation is tacky...(and I am not sure it is...I'm a fundraiser...asking is what I do.) It will be a lasting first impression....what would you do?

Answer 1

You should bring the subject up with your brother, but if he shows any signs of being uncomfortable with this, I'd let it drop if I were you. Think of yourself in the womans' shoes - how would you like it if everyone was going through you to get into your brothers' wallet?

Answer 2

I think you may put your brother in a bad position if you ask him to ask his girlfriend's brother. The baseball player is probably asked to contribute to worthy causes all the time.

The baseball team probably has some charities it already supports. You may be able to get some help from the team. You may also want to contact the player's agent. Sometimes the agent, or assistant can help.

Have the information ready to send. Make sure you have the Tax I.D. number ready and any other relevant information : contact people, annual reports, etc. This will help with any decision making. If your group is legitimate and the documentation proves it, this will help make your case.

You may also want to contact any other professional teams in your area for support as well. The professional teams help out worthy charitable cases and get good publicity as well.

Answer 3

I would say ask your brother, without pressuring him, whether he thinks it would be appropriate for his girlfriend to ask her brother. She knows her brother pretty well, and so she'll know whether he'll be willing to do this. Also, since your brother's girlfriend is pretty close to your family, she might not mind helping you out like this. Just make sure that everyone involved understands there's absolutely no pressure or expectation.

Also, in the meantime, see what kind of legwork you can do to get donations from other sources. You might end up with more than $2000!

Answer 4

I think you would be out of line in asking something of this nature. I am friends with a few MLB players and I would never in a million years consider hitting them up for cash for any reason even though they all make a lot more than I'll ever see in my life. I just think it is a bit too tacky especially when you are talking about someone you don't even personally know and you want to put your brother in that awkward position.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would ask for a way to contact the ball player whether it is directly or indirectly. You are a fundraiser, as you said, therefore that is what you do--ask for donations. Therefore, if you ask for the players info, you could pursue the donation and avoid any awkward scenerio.

Answer 6

If it would make him uncomfortable to do so, don't talk him into it. At best all I would hope for from him is a contact with the ball player. And for the sake of tact, you might start within a casual convo about what you do, and if he's interested, he'll donate on his own. Asking a potential in-law for money is a bit trickier than telemarketing or door-to-door with strangers.

Answer 7

Don't do it. There are probably many other people in your own town who could donate. Focus on them. If you want to share with your brother what you are up to and why it's important - you can do that, you can ask for advice and ask him to help you brainstorm ideas for getting donations, but don't expect him to take any action on your behalf. You would be using him and that's not fair to anyone involved.

Answer 8

Do it this way.

Ask the brother for a contact name of the media relations person for the team and broach it that way.

Your brother is out of the loop, so I doesn't look bad for him by doing this.

The ballteam may be able to generate some public interest ink for the good deed this player does and you may be able to get the whole ball team to do this donation

Answer 9

You two do not know each other and he doesn't know anything about you or your fundraiser program. and you will be putting your brother in an awkward situation by him asking .
the sister may be feel uncomfortable also.
I wouldn't ask anyone .To avoid an awkward situation..

Answer 10

I say you should go for it. Many of today's highly-paid athletes are perfectly willing to step up to the plate when called upon. Nothing beats a failure but a try! Good luck.