Running a charity can be a daunting task when you consider all of the hats you must wear to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Many individuals who started their charity tend to be people who just wanted to help a cause and did not fully realize that they also be responsible for having to raise money for their organization.

Because of this, many organizers lack the experience when it comes to hosting an event and speaking to an audience with the intention of giving a fundraising speech. If you have had it on your to-do list to “get better at public speaking”, rest assured you are not alone. 

Many charity leaders lack this skill and find it quite overwhelming. But rest assured with the appropriate practice you can learn how to deliver a great speech so you can raise fund for your organization.

Slow Down
It is very common to speak extremely fast during your presentation.  According to the professional speakers at KeynoteSpeakers.info, you should try to speak twice as slow as normal while giving a public speech.  While it might seem ridiculous on stage, you will probably be speaking at a normal rate.  

We have a tendency of talking extremely fast when we’re nervous, and there is no more applicable time than your first public speaking topic!  You have to be coherent of this predisposition, and know that you will need to overcome it.

Cut out the “ums”
Mentally, every time you search for a word, phrase, or statement while up on stage, your natural tendency will be to say “um” or “uh” to pass the time.  Stop.  Here’s the secret – just don’t say anything.  While it can feel very unnatural on stage, to the audience, pauses are quite beneficial.  

Pauses allow the listener to soak in what you just said.  Pauses are given for dramatic emphasis, and help the listener know when you’re emphasizing something.  Pauses give the audience a natural breaking point, and clearly delineate breaks in content.
In addition, the crowd will never know that you were searching for your next statement or comment.  Instead of saying “um”, just pause.

Smile
“Even though it can feel like you’re presenting to a bunch of random faces, making a connection can be an important step in their opinion of your public speaking” says Sean Adams, a motivational coach at MotivationPing.com. “If you want to master the art of public speaking, you will need to make a connection with your audience.”

The first and easiest step to take in doing so is to smile.  Smile more than you think is necessary.  Smile to soften a point you just made, or to establish a soft and sensible side to you.  When you smile, you are reminding the viewer that you are human.  You are connecting with them in a genuine way so that what you are sharing becomes easier to digest rather than feeling like a cold book report.