Donations are just one of the many sources of funding that is literally the lifeblood of any nonprofit. The ability to secure repeated donations from major donors, as well as obtain contributions from new patrons, goes a long way in improving an NFP’s ability to fund all of their service projects, as well as increase their long term sustainability.

Despite their importance, sometimes, despite your best efforts, your NFP may experience a decrease in donations. Whether it’s a long term patron that unexpectedly withdraws their financial support, or a new potential donor that turns down your direct appeal for a contribution, it’s always disappointing when a donor says “No.”

3 Tips to Turn a Donor’s Rejection into a Positive Experience for You and Your NFP

While no one enjoys being rejected, it’s important to not allow a donor’s “no” to be the end of the conversation. While you might not be able to change the donor’s mind, the following tips can help you to turn the rejection into a more positive experience for both you and the donor.

Even if your effort doesn’t garner a contribution, continuing the conversation can help you to gain additional information and insight that will help you to improve your approach when you make future requests.

Ask Open, Probing Questions to Gather More Information about the Donor Rejection

When a donor turns down a direct appeal, it’s important to learn the reason why your request has been denied. Rather than allowing the conversation to end, carefully, and gently, ask the donor why they are unable to make a donation at this time.

There are countless reasons why your request might have been rejected. Learning the reason behind the donor’s “No,” will allow you to learn if the prospect is open to making a donation in the future and will help you to know how to proceed.

Are You Certain that You Have Reached the Sole Decision Maker?

It could be that your prospect isn’t the sole decision maker, or that they need additional information about your cause before they will make a donation. Asking your prospect if there is someone else that needs to be a part of the conversation, or, if they have additional questions that you could answer about your NFP, may be the opening that you need to be able to connect with the actual decision maker, or provide the prospect with additional information that might persuade them to say “Yes.”

What to Do When Your Donor is Unwilling, or Unable, to Make a Donation

If your prospect is the actual decision maker, it is possible that they have had a negative experience with some aspect of your NFP’s operations, or, you might have misjudged their finances and they might not be able to make a donation at this time.

If your donor has had a negative experience, or has doubts about some aspect of your NFPs operations, continue the conversation by apologising for the difficulty and asking their permission to look into the situation for them. By taking the initiative and going this extra step, your donor may feel reassured that their specific bad experience or doubt is not reflective of your organisation as a whole. Whether or not you are able to completely resolve their issue, your efforts may still persuade them to make a donation now or at some point in the future.

If your prospect is facing financial difficulties, empathise and show concern for their situation and ask if it is okay if you call on them again, in the future, when their situation improves. You might also ask them if they would like to continue to support your organisation in another way since they are not able to make a financial contribution at this time. By showing consideration, and encouraging them to continue to support your NFP in other ways, you help your donor to remain emotionally connected and invested with your NFP. If their financial situation improves, they are then more likely to make a donation or gift at a later time.

While it’s certainly disheartening to receive a rejection, it doesn’t have to be an entirely negative experience for either you or your donor. By continuing the conversation you can turn the rejection into an opportunity for both you and the prospective donor to learn more about one another, and possibly open the door to future donations.