Anyone care to share their response to emails asking for donations etc.? I just got one from a church that I am not affiliated with, has never purchased anything from me, and the money is being raised to FIX THEIR PIANO, lol. Needless to say, not at the top of my "people who need help" list. How can I respond "no" nicely? Thanks!

How about something like "I have already chosen the charities to which I will donate, but good luck with your piano." ?

"I know this is a great cause and I hope you'll get many donations, but at this time we have already committed funds/ products to our chosen organizations for this year."

I do not respond to them if it has been mailed to me by someone I do not know or am not affiliated with. If they call I just say as politely as possible, "not at this time".

I have been asked to donate cakes for all kinds of fund raisers and generally I don't donate my work. I have donated one to an organization that provides health care to people on a sliding scale. I am good friends with the lady who is the office manager and her father is the director of it. It was auctioned of at their Mardi Gras fund raising ball.

Give to those who you want to support - others simply and politely decline.

The above responses are simple and straightforward. You don't want to offend anyone so a short "sorry, no" as above is always best. The only time I was ever caught off-guard was when the local post office requested a donation for their Customer Appreciation week. I shook my head no when two of the postal workers (who were not customers at my bakery) came in and asked. If I was going to give away products for Customer Appreciation week, it would be to my customers.

A simple "No, thank you" works very well.

I think it's been kicked around on this sight that using "Sorry" when we really aren't sorry and nothing to apologize for is a habit we should kick as business people.

A "I'm not able to help you at this time." is sufficient.

Mommachris

"we have already allocated our donations and gifts for this year (or quarter). Best of luck."

How about hitting "delete?" I don't have time to answer everyone who blankets the area with requests. They're probably not keeping track of who they've emailed if they have no affiliation to you.

I also don't see anything wrong with saying "I'm sorry." I am sorry if I can't do someone's cake, because it just means that they'll have to go to someone inferior, So I feel sorry for them.

Costumeczar...yes, they would end up with an inferior cake if you don't help them.
I've admired your skill for years.

mommachris

I knew you were joking...but the Cake Snob Club is always recruiting.

I'm with czar... I don't even respond. Just delete. I find the hardest ones to deal with are people that I know that really believe in their cause but think I should too. And when I don't, all of a sudden I am the plague... whatever....

It is hard for them to grasp that by donating a cake, it costs me 2x's what they are asking. Because I only have so much time and can only take a certain number of orders, I have to eliminate a paying order to take the free one. It's money out of my pocket for their ingredients and then lost income on the order I couldn't take. I don't even bother to explain it... but I KNOW that it wouldn't be giving with a smile unless I WANTED to do it and BELIEVED in the cause I was donating to. I HAVE donated a free cake. But it's not often.

My Dad always said, "NEVER give away for free what you do for a living." If you are in business to make a living, you have to remember that this is your livelihood. It's not a non-profit. If it is a hobby, it's different. But when it's your paycheck... well... I just hit delete.