Have you ever asked for a gift, and then crickets? The would-be donor doesn’t get back to you for days, weeks, or even months?
You’ve left messages and sent emails. You don’t want to bother them, but you could really use that gift.
You’re not sure what to do.
This scenario is more common than you might think. The question is, what should you do?
One important thing to remember is that fundraising isn’t one size fits all. Donors are people. And people have busy lives and multiple distractions.
5 Ways to Follow Up with an Unresponsive Donor
It’s entirely possible that unresponsive donors are not avoiding you, but they’re genuinely busy. Simply because it’s important to you doesn’t mean it’s important to your donor — not at the moment anyway.
With that in mind, here are 5 ways to follow up with a donor.
1. Be Curious
My partner at the Capital Campaign Toolkit uses this expression a lot. Be curious about your donor. Call to find out, not about the gift, but if they are okay. If you’re not after the gift, they’re more likely to be responsive. Whether you call or email, be genuine in your interest in their well-being.
2. Try a New Method
If you’ve been leaving messages, try sending an email. If you’ve been emailing, send a text instead.
3. Go Old School
Your donors are likely inundated with calls, texts, and emails. Send a handwritten note to check-in and stand out. Your hand-addressed envelope will rise to the top of the pile of bills and advertisements in their mailbox.
4. It’s Not You, It’s Me…
This classic breakup line may apply. You and the donor may not be a great match. Find someone else at your organization who can reach out. Maybe the donor will respond better to a board member or the executive director / CEO.
5. Give it Some Time
It’s entirely possible your donor is genuinely distracted with an illness or death in the family, a job loss, or other trauma. On a lighter note, they might be traveling for the season. Once you’ve reached out a few times in different ways, give your efforts a break for a while.
Keep Up with Cultivation and Stewardship
All the while you are trying to get in touch, be sure you are engaging in regular and ongoing cultivation and stewardship strategies.
- Handwrite notes on newsletters
- Provide personal updates via email
- Send invitations to volunteer opportunities and events (virtual and in-person)
- Ask them to serve on a committee
- Tag them in social media posts (when appropriate)
- Send them video clips and links to articles of interest
Most donors who do intend to make a gift will come around when they are ready. If not, it wasn’t meant to be. As disappointing as this is, it’s best to move on to the next donor.
Bottom line — Keep cultivating and stewarding. You never know!
There was another expression that you or Andrea used which follows this article
“Bless and Release” I am trying to keep that in mind when I just have to let go of an unresponsive donor. Excellent article!
Hello we need support/sponsors of our orphanage group. We have orphanage group that we helping poor children and orphanage children to pay them school fees and clothes .they reason we was start thise group is couz more poor children and orphanage children they dropped off there school couz they don’t have school fees and clothes and young girls they getting married early couz they don’t have school fees and clothes .thatsy we was start thise group so that we can help those children’s to go to school couz education is a key. Plz we need help .we have account number that any one who want to help cn use it.our group called George kaphatika orphanage group from malawi..email, bandageorge084@gmail.com
Yup, I feel this. For me as a major gifts officer, it’s trying to get one-on-one meetings over the phone or video chat and it’s gotten tougher over the past few months. I am at the point where I am so overwhelmed from trying to cultivate and steward my existing portfolio of about 120 households (and I’ve only been in my current role for about a year so I’ve not yet met with all of them), while also going thru the qualification process with about 75 additional prospects, that I give up more easily than I normally would, Whereas I’d normally move on after 3 attempts and no response, lately I’ve been giving it 2. There’s not enough time to keep following up and following up when I have so many people to try and reach and build relationships with. And because of discouragement from lack of responses, I end up doing less outreach than I need to be doing and my energy to be creative with stewardship is diminished, so it’s a vicious cycle. This was venting a little bit, but I appreciate these reminders to keep trying and give myself grace!
Great article, much appreciated! Thank you!
I’m a major donor to a 501c3 nonprofit organization. I’ve expressed interest in serving on the board of directors and/or committees but was blatantly told by the executive director that I was not qualified and there weren’t any vacancies on either of these. All I want is to have a voice to see how my donations are being utilized. I don’t feel valued at all! I asked to see their governing documents and financial statements a week ago and haven’t heard back. Very disappointed! Any advice?
Hi Mark,
That’s a very terrible, Shockingly and disappointing to hear for all the financial sacrifices you have made. That organization may not be genuine.
We at SHARE, have been working and sharing all our reports and documents with our donor’s directly or through our fundraising platform organization Global Giving. The type of donors we have are one time, donating as little as $5 it we give report and audits, including visit from those interested to the site.
It has been our prayer to get huge donors but we have not been successful, if you still have the heart to support needy and disadvataged children, please fee welcome to join our NGO.
We love to hear back from you soon.
God bless your family.