Ask Julie: What Do You Do When a Donor Gives Less Than They Promised

In this episode, I’m diving into a question that came up inside my six-month coaching and training program, Courage Lab 2.0. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you totally should—people inside are seeing incredible results, making big moves, and getting a huge return on their investment.

During one of our recent community Q&A calls, someone asked a really important question: What do you do when a donor who previously committed to giving a certain amount suddenly decides to give less? Maybe they cite political or economic uncertainty, or their priorities are shifting—either way, it puts you in a tough spot.

I’ve seen this scenario play out many times, and there are two main ways to approach it. In this episode, I break down both paths and share how I navigate these conversations with boldness and leadership. Because here’s the thing—this isn’t a new phenomenon, and it’s not going away. But as fundraisers and leaders, we have to step up, challenge the status quo, and advocate for the resources we need to do our work effectively.

What we cover in this episode:

•  How to respond when a donor changes their commitment
• The importance of getting curious before reacting
• Why values clarification is key in donor relationships
• How to position your organization as a top-performing investment
• The power of bold, direct conversations that hold donors accountable
• Why now is the time to lead, not settle for less

If you’ve ever had a donor change course on you, this episode will give you the mindset and strategy to handle it with confidence. It’s time to lead with courage and make sure the best, most effective organizations—like yours—get the funding they deserve.

Listen in, take notes, and let me know what resonates with you!

Want 15 leads in 5 minutes? DM me "Breakfast burrito" on LinkedIn and I'll send you a pdf and 6-minute training to help you generate 15 leads for your nonprofit in minutes. It's totally free. All you need is an email to sign up. DM me "Breakfast burrito" - I'm from Texas, what can I say? - to get your pdf and mini training. 

If you're an org with at least $800k annual budget and major gifts is your top priority, but you need a better strategy and approach, get on the waitlist for the next CourageLab cohort here: https://julieordonez.kit.com/couragelab2