Bringing Relationships Back from the Brink

Her mother's name was spelled wrong.

It was on the plaque. On dedication day. In front of her grandkids.

The mistake didn't end the relationship. What came next almost did.

The clinic took six weeks to fix it. Nobody called. The apology email said, "We apologize for any inconvenience."

The family went silent for a year.

Then a new major gift officer picked up the phone. She named what happened. She said she was sorry. She asked to hear about the donor's mom.

Forty-five minutes later, the door was open again.

On this week's episode of The Intentional Fundraiser, "Bringing Relationships Back from the Brink," I share:

The Four Lenses of Repair for diagnosing what's really going onThree short scripts for silence, missteps, and conflictWhy timing and channel matter more than you thinkHow to know when it's time to step back, and how to document it

So let me ask you:

What's one apology your organization owes a donor right now?

🎧 Listen to this episode, then share it with a colleague who's been carrying a donor relationship they're nervous to touch.