Ep. 16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

Oct 2

Written By Guest User

Struggling to Write Ministry Updates that Engage Donors?

You’ve seen God do amazing things- but if your emails are vague or unclear, your supporters won’t feel connected.

This free guide will show you how to:

Write subject lines that get your emails opened
Follow a simple story-driven format for every update
Engage donors with clear, Christ-centered storytelling

Download the FREE Ministry Update Guide

Ever poured your heart into sharing your ministry vision, made the ask, and then waited… only to be met with silence? It’s so frustrating and disappointing!

You wonder what went wrong. Did I say it wrong? Did they not care? Did I lose their interest?

The truth is, most of the time it’s not about you at all. It’s about one thing that’s missing from the way the ask is framed.

Why Donors Stay Silent

When a donor doesn’t respond, it’s often because the ask feels incomplete. You’ve painted a picture of your ministry and invited them to join in—but what’s missing is the reason they need to take action now.

Without the conflict—the problem—you’re working to solve, your ask loses urgency. Donors don’t just want to hear about the good that’s happening. They need to understand the weight of the problem and what’s at stake if nothing changes.

The #1 Thing Every Ask Needs

Every ask must include the conflict. It’s the tension, the problem, the gap between what is and what could be. This is what helps donors connect emotionally and see why their gift matters.

Leaving out the problem is like telling a story with no tension. It’s boring, it’s not a story at all, and it doesn’t move anyone to action. When you name the conflict clearly, you’re showing donors why their partnership is needed right now.

How It Changes the Ask

When you start including the conflict in your donor conversations, a few things shift:

Donors stop feeling like you’re just updating them—they see a role they can play.
Ghosting decreases because people understand the urgency.
Your ask becomes less about “supporting you” and more about solving something important together.

This doesn’t mean you have to be dramatic or manipulative. It simply means you’re being honest about the real problems your ministry exists to address—and giving donors the opportunity to step into the story with you.

Final Thoughts

Donors want to give, but they need clarity. When your ask includes the conflict—the problem—it gives them the missing piece that makes everything else click.

So the next time you share your ministry and invite someone to give, don’t skip over the tension. Put the conflict front and center. It might be the difference between silence and a clear yes.