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One thing that has come up is a mistake with tracking the amount pledged, due to staff turnover. I had called to shift the relationship over and the organization did not believe they would have pledged this large of an amount. I acknowledged that we didn't have any comittment to that amount and that I was probably misinformed, apologized over the phone and dropped off their sponsorship gift in person to further connect.

This is a good point- timelines to ask donors for a contribution and ensuring there is enough time to make the decision on their end.

Perhaps re-phrasing the need that we would want the donors to be involved in and contribute to?

Perhaps looking at the need from different prospective, what is it that would satisfy the donors and want to be involved in? What is it they are passionate about but can share common values?

Always good to have a list of donors and not to forget the kids of donors. Also never to take No so personal

I have been denied funds for our organization and the reasons were that the foundation was established in less than 3 months in operations. It was understood and hopping to go back to the same donors when we mature to 6 months

I have been denied funds for our organization and the reasons were that the foundation was established in less than 3 months in operations. It was understood and hopping to go back to the same donors when we mature to 6 months

With hearing "no," not just in this context but in any context- the important thing is to remember "this is not about me." It usually isn't! It says more about where the other person is at the present moment.

This sounds like a great plan! It sounds like it wasn't really a "no," but a "not yet." This gives you a path for the future...

Rejection has me to go through a process of reflection and soul serching so that am able to develop a totally different approach. The process helps me to define exactly what I did well in the fundraising process and what I need to improve to secure the funds in future.

When I think of a time in which I experienced a “no” or rejection with a donor when fundraising.many a times. It is democratizing and if you you are not patient you might loose .but many a time you need to be persistent and show that you really patient but needs to understand what your donor requires

You always require to map out your potential donors you need to have multiple donors so that if you can't be able to get support from one of them then you have multiple options

Rejection should be taken positively so enable you go back to the drawing board to reflect on whatever went wrong so that you can rectify and come up with resolution on how to next time handle and convince your potential donors to support your project

Recieving a No from a potential donor is of different categories .
I would like to highlight about the two most important difference between a “hard no” direct and a “soft no”. Persuve A hard no is characterized by the following phrases “not now, not ever” kind of no. If you hear this from a donor . Then you need to review your approach and go and prepare well because this kind of response come either because you weren’t prepared and didn’t do enough research,and fact finding and cultivation about your donor . Soft no’s are the ones you list above, and there’s often a way to turn them into a “yes”!soft No are easily turned to yes if you are Persuve and done you donor mapping in advance

Incorporating Donor Families and Dealing with Disappointments has tom Had said that Try much to acquaint yourself with the Donors families Many of Donors families do not support the same course as there Parents therefore you need to be close with them because there will be a time they will inherit there parents resources and you will need them to support your course but you need to understand what the prospect donor supports

When you receive a negative response, you must listen to the donor and see if there is a possibility of inviting him again to donate to our cause, it is a negative feeling, but you must learn to live with that response and move on.

Ask the donor the reason for the rejection . Make follow up questions and ask for advice on how to go about the cause and suggestions.

And not I how the donor that i am upset

Recieving A no from a donor is obviously not pleasant but to me its a challenge that i cherish to be able to go back to the drawing board and evaluate what really went wrong did i connect with the donor well. How will approach the same or such like a donor if given a nother opportunity. this should be a learning avenue for future improvement

"mistake correction and and handling disappointment from donor" is very Great and helpful topic that might lead to success For any fundraising event. when I get a rejection or no from potential donor, i Will consider the positive part of rejection and admit the mistake as a common issues then I will take permission to ask him again next time.

Of course not neglecting the children of donor might lead you to successful relationship b/n you and whole family of donors. examples from Tom are very helpful and considerable.

Of course not neglecting the children of donor might lead you to successful relationship b/n you and whole family of donors. examples from Tom are very helpful and considerable.

I have learned that someoen rjecting your ask is not the be all end all. We can turn our d turn our dissapointment into success by setting up the next ask through tailored questions. I think this was one of the most helpful articles we have read.

That's a good point. Stopping the exchange with the donor given a now biased interaction is important. I would never have thought the solution was just to have a different donor soo fundrasier sooth things over.

I have learned that identifying why a person says "no" can be very helpful in future requests fro donations and involvement. When I understand why someone is saying no I can better formulate messages to reach them the next time or the next person I reach out to.

Hi Luluzoo, I like how you note that being rejected is not the end all be all. I also think it is very important to remember that, because although rejections are discouraging, you must continue asking and learning.

Stay focused on your Goal. Don’t be scared of people who is telling you no. It can be a form of motivation to become better in your asking. And have a better win win situation in the future

First off accepting your turning down and your reject positive response. Work on it and becoming better for the next steps

I found the idea of incorporating donor families helpful. It works especially well in universities with legacy gradfuates

rejection can be tough, but better to keep positive attitude and learn from experience .
sometimes a donor might be scared to donate because they might not be sure about the organization which may be the cause of their "no" so in situation like i will have to ask to know the areas of my information they do not understand and assure them that they won't regret donating .

Hi, am Simene Okontim James, from Nigeria specifically Lagos, is anyone here available to discuss the course with me, and how Tom Wulf explained and lectured during the course. It will be exciting hearing from you guys

Hi, am Simene Okontim James, from Nigeria specifically Lagos, is anyone here available to discuss the course with me, and how Tom Wulf explained and lectured during the course. It will be exciting hearing from you guys

What is one thing you have learned from the experience of rejection or getting a “no” from a donor that can help you be successful in the future? No's are not forever.

I think Identifying the type of a "no" is the most significant insight from this module for me. I hope to use this strategy to approach rejection in the future and to understand that often it is not personal, but rather is about the circumstances.

To accept rejections respectfully.

There are 2 things that stuck with me during the learning process namely: "When requesting for a Donation, request more than you expect to receive" and also "Compliment the Donor and not your Organization."

I learnt that even if I receive a "no" for an answer I have to try as much as possible to treat the person very nicely, because they might change their mind in the future and pull a pleasant surprise on me.

Sure, that is very true. You leave richer if it is yes, and you leave smarter if it is no.

One thing I have learned from an experience of a no is never to give up. You keep trying until you get positive results

Very true because if rejections are accepted respectfully, with time they may turn out positive

I agree. I feel as though the relationship with the individual is just as important as the ask or the cause.

I learnt to handle no to funding and move on and to always have multiple donors in a waiting list

very true despite several rejections there is still need to explore other donors

very true despite several rejections there is still need to explore other donors

I learned that out of every 100 people, 1 will say yes.
In this race you have to be perseverant

It is a path of self-knowledge to know how far you can go without getting discouraged.

It is a great way to apply behavioral psychology

The way is long.

One lesson I learned when a donor says no, is not to be angry and I should not feel bad. I should make a positive something out of the disappointment. I should continue to be nice to the person.

I have learnt that it's of great importance to enquire for the reasons so that I can learn from it. I have also learnt to differentiate between an emphatic no and other responses that may simply indicate that the prospective donor is unsure and hence needing the right approach as well as questions to ensure clarity.

Engaging and involving family members of a donor is also one of the most underrated aspects of this lesson.

A no has many reasons, We kind to know the donor very well, and if we are able to make a good report, they would themselves tell us the exact reason why they are not donating. and then we can customize the plan.

i think that is too much generalization, it could be just 1/10, and we need to select our prospects really well. If we have a case of 1/100, then there would be a lot of waste of effort and no company would like that.

i have learnt to prepare for unforseen circumstances like this and have an array of donors on the list

In this module I learned the importance of knowing and creating a rapport with the donors family especially children.This will help in future support for my organisation.
The module has also help me in dealing with NO answer from donor and consider that as a learning to improve.

I have learnt that a no from the donor is not a reflection of your character as a fundraiser, therefore you must not see it as an attack on you as a person, but the no just simply means that they are not in a position to assist you at that moment for various reasons.

Nov 3, 2020, 6:29 PM
Hello, my goal is to transition into nonprofit work with an emphasis on fundraising. I have experience fundraising in the community and would like to turn that into a career. I want to learn in depth practical material.

Nov 3, 2020, 6:29 PM
Hello, my goal is to transition into nonprofit work with an emphasis on fundraising. I have experience fundraising in the community and would like to turn that into a career. I want to learn in depth practical material.

One valuable lesson I have learned from the experience of rejection or receiving a "no" from a donor is the importance of persistence and resilience in fundraising. It's natural to feel disappointed when a donor declines to contribute or support a fundraising initiative. However, the key takeaway is that rejection is not the end of the road; it's a part of the fundraising process.

What I've learned is that a single "no" doesn't necessarily reflect a donor's disinterest in the cause or organization. It could be due to various reasons, such as timing, financial constraints, or a lack of understanding of the project's impact.

To be successful in the future, it's crucial to:

Maintain a Positive Attitude: While rejection can be disheartening, it's essential to stay positive and not take it personally. A "no" from one donor does not define the overall success of the fundraising campaign.

Learn from Each Interaction: Use each rejection as an opportunity to learn and improve. Reflect on the reasons behind the rejection, if known, and consider how to address potential concerns or objections in future interactions.

Persist and Follow Up: Don't be discouraged by initial rejections. Continue to nurture relationships with potential donors, keeping them informed about the organization's work, and periodically following up to gauge their interest and changing circumstances.

Diversify Fundraising Efforts: Recognize that fundraising success often relies on a diversified approach. Explore multiple fundraising channels, such as individual donors, grants, corporate partnerships, and events, to reduce dependency on any single source.

Adapt and Refine Strategies: Be willing to adapt fundraising strategies based on feedback and experiences. What works for one donor may not work for another, so flexibility and adaptability are essential.

Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate both small and significant fundraising successes. Recognizing milestones and achievements can boost morale and motivate the fundraising team.

In summary, rejection in fundraising is a valuable teacher. It teaches resilience, the importance of continuous improvement, and the need to maintain a positive outlook. By applying these lessons and persevering in the face of rejection, fundraisers can increase their chances of success in the future and build stronger donor relationships over time.

1: What is one thing you have learned from the experience of rejection or getting a “no” from a donor that can help you be successful in the future?
I have learned that a "no" could mean several things. one, it could mean that the interest of the donor has changed; two, a 'no' can come from the child of a donor due to the lack of similar interest with the parent, and lastly, it could mean that the donor has several responsibilities and commitments and is trying to manage himself/herself to meet these commitments.

The one thing I've really learnt when facing a NO is not to feel frustrated but to put a Thinking Cap on and: First: classify the type of NO and Next: try and convert the disappointment into a creative moment.

Thank you for Sharing insights in detail.

Agree with what You have shared

Thank you for sharing your learnings. I agree the Children of the Donor now are potential Future donors! So one must handle them with care

I think disappointments are something we should expect when it comes to fundraising. This course has really enlightened le on how to manage them effectively and the right steps to take.

never forget to start inviting donor's family members and have good association with them for building long term relationship as we learnt that after the demise of donor the family members still find them associated with the organization and the fund will still pool in.
Dealing with disappointment is a technique and changing the ways and even sometimes person to approach the donor for funds is mandatory when their is constant failure or things don't work out as planned.

if you get a no, try to find out more information to why they refused

A no can be positive. It can help learn better ways of doing things and get smatter

It is not an easy task, it is a long road of perseverance to not get discouraged by the many no's..

I agree with you.

great. you need to have different donor. and everyone should know how they will be benefited

Do not be angry Donor could still be useful in other areas or in the future

I do not typically follow up after I receive a no, because I assume the donor has their reasons.

I agree that you have to listen to the donor. I would ask clarifying questions to see if perhaps the donor might be interested in donating at some point in the future. I have learned that it is okay to ask questions, whereas before I would just say "okay" and move on.

There are many things that can affect the legal
status of a financial commitment. First, let me say that a
verbal promise of a contribution is not sufficient to take
legal action. And even written commitments provide no
assurance that you are going to collect. In the U.S. at least,
if you have a grant letter from a government agency, it is
generally legally binding. But read the small print. Be
sure there are no qualifications, or warnings of specific
conditions or limitations, that provide exceptions. One
example might be that if the agency does not receive its
expected budget allocation for the year, they don’t have to
pay you. Written confirmation of a gift from a corporation
or grant-giving foundation is generally binding as well. In
these cases, especially in the case of government awards,
they are sufficiently reliable that a bank will lend to you
using them as collateral, which is something pledged as
security for repayment of a loan

I have learnt that even if the donor says NO i need to thank him/her, secondary to recommunicate again with that actual or potential donor but in another techinique way and thirdly i can opt to start a peer-to- peer fundraisin

Kevin how did you connect with donors family?

@9680730 said in Module 3 Discussion: Incorporating Donor Families and Dealing with Disappointments:

When you receive a negative response, you must listen to the donor and see if there is a possibility of inviting him again to donate to our cause, it is a negative feeling, but you must learn to live with that response and move on.

A rejection is an eye opener,therefore it is expected and solutions to be sought in order to revert the "no" or disappointments.

I learned from the rejection that it is never final, until the donor let you know that. You still may find ways to cooperate or get contribution in future from that donor

Nice recommendation!

Thank you for such useful insights

Nice strategy

One of the key lessons learned from a donor's rejection or "no" is the understanding that rejection is not necessarily an indication of disinterest in the project. This may be due to personal or financial circumstances on the part of the donor. This experience taught me to maintain positive relationships even after rejection, to recognize individual constraints and to remain open to other forms of support beyond monetary financing.

Another valuable lesson is to always seek to maintain open and honest communication with donors, even after a rejection. This helps cultivate lasting relationships and stay in touch for possible future opportunities. By understanding the reasons behind the refusal and expressing gratitude for their consideration, it can build trust and possibly open the door to further potential support or referrals to other donors.

If when you receive a negative response, you must listen to the donor and see if there is a possibility of inviting him again to donate to our cause, it is a negative feeling, but you must learn to live with that response and move on.

One important thing I've learned from a "no" is to keep going. Rejection doesn't mean the project isn't good—it could be about timing or other reasons. So, staying positive, learning from it, and trying different ways to get support is key to success in the future.

Ask them if this is the right time to ask for a donation, perhaps a different time of year would work better so the no isn't definite.

I learnt that a "No" is never the end of a negotiation but the opportunity to convince

It's hard to accept a no, but live goes on and maybe a better oportunity is waiting.

Negative opinions can have various meanings, so it is important to imagine and investigate the reasons. Depending on the reason, you may want to consider whether to keep it on the list or leave it.

1: What is one thing you have learned from the experience of rejection or getting a “no” from a donor that can help you be successful in the future?

No's are always an opportunity to reflect, learn, and improve. I have received no from organizations during one cycle that led to successful fundraising later on after gathering feedback and pivoting the ask to better align with the funder's interests and needs. It can be challenging when a funder isn't receptive to inquiries and conversation attempts, which I have found to happen fairly often with foundations.

Absolutely! It's important and difficult to follow up a negative response with questions. It can feel more natural to simply end the conversation when hearing "no" but that doesn't leave any room for learning or growth.

New donor even if is for heritage, is a new person with his own dreams, wills and goals. As so, you need to know him and get the trust to participate in your organizations fundings.

That no's might not be permanent, but that I must be thoughtful and careful with the way in which I approach the donor in order to understand why they said no, and strengthen my case for a better time.

I have learned how to deal with a negative situation and to prepare the next steps.

I have learnt how to take the initial no and turn it into data driven feedback for future decisions. The no is never easy, but the why behind it can provide critical insight to improve your organization or relationship buildings in the future.

I find that it is a great opportunity to engage in feedback and learn more about how the process could improve. Once we received a no but it had nothing to with any person but more about the type of event we were still running and how it felt stale to the donor. This lead to our next year revamping the event, adding in new activities and rebranding the entire flagship event

One thing that is certain is the fact that this incorporation of families of the donors is majorly the duty of the donor not you request for sponsorship.

a no doesnt meant you cant get funding you need.

No is not always a long-term answer. Listen to the donor more and make another ask in the future.