Manjusvara
I did my first fundraising appeal (for Dhardo Rimpoche's ITBCI school) in 1985. It was supposed to be for experienced fundraisers only, but I managed to talk my way on it. (This followed a dream I had had about Dhardo.) The key for me was when one of the trainers advised me to 'just be myself', since an authentic presence on the doorstep helped whoever you met respond in the same way. Who this 'self' might be is, of course, open to interpretation (interpretation by circumstances, which change all the time); to expansion (how often we limit ourselves); and thus consequently to revision.
I have been involved with fundraising ever since because it is one of the most effective transformative tools I know. Indeed I regard it as the 'secret' or 'tantric' teaching of the FWBO, and I am sure I would not have joined the Order without it. It is a practice embodied by Green Tara: reaching out into the world, whilst remaining in touch with your own inner world.
These days my role with fundraising teams is to bring the creative mind into the equation, drawing on material from my book 'Writing Your Way'. For example if you are able to imaginatively put yourself in someone else's position you are more likely to build empathy with them. Similarly if you allow yourself to feel like you are 'gliding', 'flying', or 'dancing' down a suburban street you open up all sorts of possibilities within yourself. Am I talking metaphorically? Not entirely. Fundraising is a magician's hinge, the passage between worlds. Yours and other people's.