Katie Hannah printed out the rejection email and brought it to the interview. "After careful consideration, our board of reviewers has determined that your application does not make the case for membership at this time."
Most fundraisers file that away and move on. The Director of Development at Momentum Leaders sent one open-ended question instead — and it turned into a $223,000 yes for a leadership nonprofit in Birmingham, Alabama. 🩵
This is Possible in Practice, a limited series of case studies from leaders in the We Are For Good community — the ask they sent, the risk they took, and what happened next.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- The exact email reply that reopened a closed door, and why an open-ended question is a near-guaranteed way to get a response
- Why a "no" often means your mission didn't survive the 100-word box, not that the funder isn't interested
- How to treat a rejection like a major donor visit: seek to listen, not to convince
- The in-kind donor who brought toiletries for years, then walked in at Christmas with a $100,000 check
- A leadership reframe from a six-year-old that will change how you think about your own career
You'll walk away with permission to get curious about the next no that lands in your inbox. 🩵
Episode Highlights:
- (2:22) Katie's path from broadcast to Birmingham fundraising
- (5:34) Inside Momentum Leaders: eight staff, $10.5M in salary gains
- (7:56) The no: driving 90 minutes to a panel, then getting rejected
- (11:44) Why your mission doesn't fit in 100 words
- (13:40) Get curious about the no: perseverance as a fundraising skill
- (15:34) The toiletries donor and the $100,000 check
- (19:15) "No means nurturing oneself"
- (20:05) One good thing: lead like a child
Episode Show Notes: www.weareforgood.com/episode/735
Join us at The Spread!
Givebutter's biggest innovation event of the year is here — The Spread, built entirely around co-creating with nonprofits like yours. 💛
We Are For Good is joining forces with GB to host in-person hackathon meetups on Friday, Oct. 2, in New York, Seattle, LA, Denver, and Indianapolis, so you can build alongside other nonprofits in the community.
Learn more and save your free spot today.
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Join the We Are For Good Community—completely free.
Join fellow changemakers, share takeaways from this working session, and keep collaborating in a space built for connection, inspiration, and real impact: www.weareforgoodcommunity.com
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