Practice Saying ‘I’m Sorry’

Strange as it may seem, your donors and supporters actually like it when you say, “I’m sorry.”

How’s that?

For nonprofits, apologizing is effective when it addresses two quite different situations. First, admit the mistakes you make in your programs; the social service program that delivered mediocre outcomes; the performing arts performance that bombed.

When you admit these—you’re apologizing to your investors—your donors. Doing so raises your capital with your donors and gives them the opportunity to be generous with you again.

The second situation, which demands a meaningful apology, is when you’ve violated a donor’s trust. It can be a very small thing like misspelling their name or the much more serious breech of misallocating a gift per the donor’s instructions.

When you say “sorry” to these, it’s incumbent on you to correct the error right away. Do whatever it takes.

It’s only the sincere apology that counts.

Lots of people say “sorry.” The unique fundraising idea is to really mean it. For many, saying “sorry” is regretting that they were called on it. We’ve seen it all too often. Bureaucracy defending an indefensible status quo.

For those who are sincere and show that sincerity by their follow-up, the benefits are limitless.

Principle 6 of The Eight Principles™ is Divide & Grow™. Treat different donors differently. After all, we all want to be validated, reassured.

The nonprofit leader who works within this principle will discover another—abundance. They will see their support—monetary and otherwise—skyrocket.

To your fundraising success!