Opportunity knocks when donors say 'No'

How happy we are when someone says yes, and rightly so, but how do we react when donors say no? Your feelings and responses to hearing 'no' can make a real difference in building donor loyalty. Even under the best of circumstances, at least half of the people you ask will say no to the opportunity to give money to your group, as Kim Klein points out in her advice on how to get over the fear of asking. When this happens, instead of feeling hopeless or resentful, say, thank you and mean it! It can put you one step closer to a yes next time, and at the very least, shows respect for the donor. 

Being grateful for the time and thought put into saying 'no' really can give you an edge, especially when most people do this badly. Tony Poderis tells a story that makes this startlingly clear, in Say Thanks, even if You Don't Get the Grant.

[The foundation official] spoke of his disappointment over the years when he failed to get a note of appreciation if a grant was not awarded. Bob explained that for the most part all of the proposals the foundation received were put through an extensive review and evaluation process. The work was done for the grants denied as well as for those made. When a grant proposal was turned down, the foundation took pains to let the grant seeker know that his or her organization had been seriously considered.

Barely ten percent of such thoughtful rejections from the foundation resulted in at least a brief note of appreciation. While these failures were most certainly less than good manners, they were also a lost opportunity.

I clearly recall Bob saying, that when no such appreciation was forthcoming it caused him to, “…wonder why they burn the bridge behind them for the next time.” That’s strong language, and the next time comment is telling. The lack of appreciation for the review process, even when it failed to produce the desired outcome, showed the organizations to be insensitive to the dedication and commitment of the foundation, its staff, and trustees.