Recall that the number-one criterion for a great Table Captain is passion for your organization's mission. Many groups overlook this fact and default to people who are easy to recruit out of their obligation to or familiarity with the organization—people whose passion may have waned a bit over time.

Which of these phone calls would you like your Table Captains to make when they invite their guests to the Ask Event^™?

• "Would you come sit at my table at a fundraising event for the autism nonprofit group here in town? I told them I'd put a table together, and it would help me a lot if you'd come. You don't even have to give money," or:
  
  
• "Remember the autism group I mentioned the last time we talked? They are amazing! I had no idea they were doing so much to help families and people with autism. I offered to be a Table Captain at their fundraising event because I was so impressed with their work right here in our community. I'd love for you to join me at my table this year. There is truly no obligation to give. We want people to come to learn about their work, as much as anything."
  
  

As you look to your lists of passionate volunteers, board members, and donors, tell the truth about their current level of passion for your mission. Perhaps there is a volunteer with a family member who was directly affected by the problems or issues your organization is seeking to eradicate. If she were to become a Table Captain, the people she would invite to attend the Ask Event would likely say yes and attend because they know how much your work means to her.

Ideally, this woman would have invited several of her friends to Point of Entry^® Events prior to the Ask Event. These friends would have seen the work of the organization firsthand and, in the Follow-Up Call from a staff member or volunteer, would have had an opportunity to choose to become more involved. Therefore, several of the people at this woman's table at the Ask Event would be familiar enough with the mission of the organization that their gifts would not be made strictly because of a sense of guilt and obligation to their friend the Table Captain, but because they actually believe in your work.

If you begin to use passion as your main criterion for selecting Table Captains, you will have happier Table Captains and better financial results.