We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Privacy Overview
Login
Your Role
Challenges You Face
results
Learn
Resources
Company
Why Your Donors Say "No" and What to Do About It
Jedi and their apprentices are shown practicing throughout the Star Wars series. And that’s no surprise because everyone knows that practice makes perfect. Deep down, you know that becoming a “Jedi Master” at anything requires practice. Great sales people, great athletes, great surgeons… anyone great… yes, great fundraisers too… needs to practice.
So, what does practice mean when it comes to fundraising?
For starters, you need to outline why people say “no.” I provided a list below. But then comes the hard part. You need to write down what you should say and do when each instance arises to improve your batting average. And finally, you should refer to your list frequently and practice your responses.
To help you get started, here’s why people say “no”:
|
One thing I’d like to add is that sometimes you don’t need to question why you got a “no”. There are some times that you will never know the true reason. When that happens, just count it as a positive step forward (because it’s a numbers game) and move on. No reason to over-analyze every single thing but you should analyze almost everything.
Note: I have to give credit to Marc Pitman for inspiring this list (although I actually found it provided on the Veritus Group blog)
LIKE THIS BLOG POST? PLEASE SHARE IT AND/OR SUBSCRIBE
Get the book!
Feeling like your job is getting harder because donor expectations have changed and competition for the charitable dollar is growing?
Finding that the old orthodoxies and conventions espoused by so-called experts in online echo-chambers and at conferences don’t work anymore?
Want to help more people make impact by facilitating their acts of philanthropy but feel like too many obstacles keep getting in your way?
Then this book is for you.
Engagement Fundraising was developed from the perspective of a donor who discovered firsthand that the impersonal, spray-and-pray approaches of his beloved charity were not only offensive but also wasteful and ineffective. So he took action. And now, you can too.
Get smarter with the SmartIdeas blog
Subscribe to our blog today and get actionable fundraising ideas delivered straight to your inbox!
Thanks for another great post Greg! I always turn to Jerold Panas’ Book Asking when I’m about to make donor visits. He outlines questions and responses to ‘no’.
Love that book! Thanks Leah.
and so often it really just means “not right now”….or at least I consider it to mean that….and then work to get to know the donors much better….before I ask again. Thanks for the thoughts, Greg!
So true Marguerite.
Thanks for another great post Greg! I always turn to Jerold Panas’ Book Asking when I’m about to make donor visits. He outlines questions and responses to ‘no’.
Love that book! Thanks Leah.
and so often it really just means “not right now”….or at least I consider it to mean that….and then work to get to know the donors much better….before I ask again. Thanks for the thoughts, Greg!
So true Marguerite.