When people say "no"
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No one likes feeling bad. No one likes remembering hard situations. No one likes being in places – or near people – that make them feel less than. That’s why it can be hard to ask someone for a donation. Because when you ask, there’s a chance they’ll say no. And if they say no, it can get…awkward. (Particularly if this is someone you have a personal connection to.) When you make a big ask and someone can’t say yes, the immediate reaction is…they don’t feel good about saying no. And when people have a bad feeling, we’re psychologically wired to stay away from anything associated. But you want to fundraise from them – so how do you take the risk of asking without the risk of it all falling flat? Make sure that, whether or not they give, they walk away from the situation feeling positive. If someone can’t give (or if they don’t respond to your request at all, you’ve done the proper follow-up and can now safely assume it’s a no): let them know you have no hard feelings. Try a simple message like this: “Thank you for getting back to us. We understand that now is not a good time and want to let you know that we still appreciate your involvement and support of this community. Thank you for everything you do for us!” If they never actually responded: “We get that now’s not a good time for you and wanted to let you know that we still appreciate your involvement and support of this community. Thank you for everything you do for us!” These messages softens the emotions a little so they don't feel bad and know that they’re always welcomed, no matter how much they can or can’t give. They still feel good about your organization. They still want to stay connected. (And they’re more likely to actually give again when the time is actually right.)
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