I received this question today. It's a common question that I get. I completely understand. I would be nervous about making such a big change as well. This is a great time to explain that yes, I am a comedian, but when I'm speaking at a banquet, fundraising event, etc - I am a fundraiser who uses comedy to move people to action.
Here is the answer that I sent this morning and that I have sent out on several occasions:
"Great question! Thank you so much for getting back to me and giving me a chance to answer!
The simple answer is that I use comedy to tell our family's life-affirming stories and do my financial appeal. I am a comedian, but more than that, I am a professional fundraiser. I am currently half-way to my Certificate of Fundraising Management through the Lilly School of Philanthropy. I am also the director of a nonprofit in my hometown, Guardian Angels of SW Florida, and that means I am primarily a fundraiser working with major donors, legacy givers, and the annual gift department. I am more trained in fundraising than I am in comedy! :)
My typical "show" for a banquet is broken into three interlocking parts. I start with 15 minutes of clean, family friendly, comedy that sets up the second two parts of the show. My comedy centers around family, marriage, and children. Then I spend 15 minutes telling the stories of our foray into our local pregnancy resource center after we miscarried our first child and our story of the life-saving international adoption of our son. The final 15 minutes is the financial appeal. That is set up by the previous two parts of my speech. I have had many comments from directors that have said that my I have given the best financial appeal that they have heard. It all flows together very well.
Many people find me funny, however many more people find me inspirational (at banquets). The last three banquets that I spoke at were able to raise the most money in their history of their banquets. That's not a guarantee though! hah.
I can easily be billed as an inspirational speaker. Yes, I have been the first "comedian" for a handful of places and they have been very pleased!"
Go for it! Contact me today!
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