The one missing ingredient in most fundraising messaging is the bad news. Hopefully, when you communicate with your donors (and prospective donors) you help them understand the problem your ministry solves. I’m sure you tell them how you go about dealing with the problem. Maybe you even tell them how they will be different and better by joining in your cause…
But…do you tell them what happens if your work doesn’t go on?
Of course, it’s not about budget or guilt. It’s about helping people who love you understand the consequences of their inaction.
Go ahead, help us understand the downside of ignoring your appeal. The hard part is to resist heaping on the guilt or making about your budget.
Give us the consequences, it’ll help us make a good decision.
What do you think about giving the bad news to donors? Does it feel like manipulation or guilt? I’d love to know what you think about it.
Steve Thomas
Partner, Oneicity
(photo credit: laszlo-photo)
