What to Do: Demonstrate what’s in it for him — some value that your friend can relate to, says foundation president Robert Goodwin. For some people, that will involve spending time doing a fun activity with a group of friends; for others, it’s simply the knowledge that they’re making a real difference in the community.

What Not to Do: Don’t ask your friend to do the same thing he does all day long at work. An accountant, for example, may prefer to donate his time and dig holes and plant trees outdoors on a parks-improvement project rather than develop a detailed budget for a park-service benefit.

Sample Script: “I think you’d enjoy working on the city’s youth initiatives. We’re going to be painting the community center. We could really use your help.”