I can tell the exact moment a potential candidate gets cold feet. We’re sitting in a coffee shop, mapping out a winning strategy. They are excited about the issues. They are ready to knock on doors. They are ready to serve.

Then I ask the question: “Okay, who are the first 10 people you’re going to ask for $1,000?”

The color drains from their face. They shift in their chair. And then they say it:

"Nick, I can’t do that. I hate asking for money. I don't want to be a beggar."

If that’s you, I have good news and bad news.

The Bad News: You cannot win a modern election without money. Signs, mailers, digital ads—they all cost cash. If you aren't willing to fund your vision, your vision stays a hallucination.

The Good News: You feel like a beggar because you are looking at it wrong.

đź’ˇ Quick Check: Are you making other rookie mistakes? Download my free 7-Point Campaign Readiness Checklist here.

The Mindset Shift

When you ask a donor for a contribution, you are not asking for charity. You aren't asking them to pay your rent.

You are giving them an opportunity to invest in their own property value.

Think about it. If you become Mayor (or Councilmember), you are going to fix the potholes, improve the parks, and make the streets safer. That makes their home worth more. That makes their business more profitable.

When you ask for $500, you aren't taking from them. You are inviting them to buy stock in the future of their town.

The "First 10" Rule

Here is the secret to getting over the fear: Don't start with strangers.

Your first fundraising calls shouldn't be to the wealthy business owner you’ve never met. They should be to the people who would bail you out of jail at 3 AM.

If you can't get your brother, your best friend, or your business partner to invest $50 in your campaign, why should a stranger invest $500?

Start small. Build the war chest with "love money." Once you see that first check hit the bank account, the fear of asking disappears, and the confidence to win takes its place.

Don't Let Money Kill Your Campaign

Fundraising is just a skill. It’s not a personality trait. You can learn it.

But there are 6 other "invisible" mistakes that are actually more dangerous than a lack of money. I’ve seen well-funded candidates lose because they ignored them.

I’ve put together a checklist of the 7 Rookie Mistakes That Sink Local Campaigns. It covers the "Money Myth" and the other traps you need to avoid before Day 1.