Some Donors Just Don’t Have the Cards 🃏

Hey everyone!
 

If you're the CEO of a non-profit and/or professional fundraiser, I'm sure you pour your heart and soul into your work.

When you make an appeal, you highlight the urgency of the cause.  You’re a natural in delivering those stories that pull at the heartstrings, or at least you sound like one. You make your nonprofit’s mission sound like the greatest thing since sliced challah (and it is).

Usually, your efforts pay off.  People are inspired and gladly hand over their last dollars to sponsor the pizza at your next program.  

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But then there's that one donor you can't seem to hook.  He never supports you in a significant way. It's clear he's got millions in the bank, but so far, he hasn’t even written a $36 check.

You've tried it all and gotten nowhere. Zero. Nada. Goose egg. 🥴 

You can't figure it out -- was the pitch too strong?  Not strong enough? Was it bad timing?

If you ask me, it’s not your fault.  And it's not the would-be donor's fault, either.  

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He just doesn’t have the cards 🃏.

Please allow me to explain, and pardon me if I get a bit philosophical.

We tend to think a person can just decide to be kind to others.  But the truth is you have to earn it.  A donor has to have the merit, the fortune, and the spiritual privilege to give to your NPO.

Being a giver is a gift in itself—an alignment of circumstances, values, and inner generosity.

The world is filled with billionaires, yet poverty and hunger remain rampant. According to a 2023 Oxfam report, the world’s richest 1% captured almost two-thirds of all new wealth created since 2020, while millions of people struggle to survive on less than $2 a day 🌍. 

It’s not a lack of resources—it’s a lack of giving.

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And I’m not saying this to boost your ego, Mr. or Mrs. Nonprofit CEO. I say it because it’s true, and I’ve seen it firsthand.

I’ve raised funds for a family I know on more than one occasion. They’re great people who hit hard times, and being someone who doesn’t mind bothering people for donations, I’ve joined a few other similar friends, and we do what we can.  Over the years, we’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars from generous, caring folks 🤝.

But you know what’s crazy?

This family is related to at least one millionaire.  Not a distant cousin, not an in-law—someone close. And guess how much he’s given? Not even a penny.

Maybe he doesn’t understand the seriousness of the situation.  Maybe he’s already committed to other causes. Or maybe he just doesn’t feel a sense of responsibility.

The real reason? It's not his fault; he just doesn’t have the cards.

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Now, you might be thinking, “Danny, what’s the point of this rant? Should I just give up on hard-to-crack donors?” No, of course not. Keep pitching, keep telling your story, keep doing the work.

--> And make sure you invest in a copywriter who will help you tell your story. <--

But also recognize that not every donor is meant to be your donor. It’s not a failure of your pitch or your mission. It’s just the way things are.  

That’s all for now!
Danny 🙂

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