Sample declination letter to sponsorship (2024)

FAQs

How do you politely decline a sponsorship request letter? ›

I always start by thanking them for considering us, then follow that up with an apologetic reason why we are unable to take part. An example form of this would be along the lines of: “Regrettably, we are unable to participate in your event at this time due to [insert your reason here].

Use Empathy and Future Consideration When Declining

Let them know you will keep them in mind for future support. For example: "We fully support the important work your organization does. While we are unable to contribute financially at this time, please keep us posted on your upcoming events and initiatives.

Dear: Thank you for submitting your proposal to the __________ Foundation. We enjoyed learning about your organization and the work that you do. Your proposal has been reviewed carefully, but I regret to inform you that your request for funding support has been declined.

Tell It Like It Is

However, I'm not able to sponsor it—in my experience, that kind of arrangement hasn't worked as well as I would have wanted. I've found that guests often are confused or distracted by too many messages. I want your guests to be focused on your and your event—not my company!”

In addition to thanking the other person for their time and expressing gratitude for the opportunity, you should do two things: State your interest in being considered for future opportunities, and ask for feedback on how you can improve.

Let's start with feelings: If you get rejected, acknowledge it to yourself. Don't try to brush off the hurt or pretend it's not painful. Instead of thinking "I shouldn't feel this way," think about how normal it is to feel like you do, given your situation. Notice how intense your feelings are.

Dear [Sender], Thank you for letting me know about your decision. I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the [Position] role. While I am disappointed to learn that I was not selected, I appreciate the time and consideration you extended to me throughout the hiring process.

Accentuate the positive.

Appreciate the opportunity and still say no. Say: “I'm glad that we work closely enough that you feel you could ask me this. I'm sorry I can't help you this time—I have a couple other deadlines I have to meet.”

How to reply to a sponsorship request? ›

Dear [Name of Recipient]: Thank you for contacting me to request a donation for [Name of Charity]. I appreciate your commitment to this cause, and I would be pleased to make a contribution toward this worthy organization. Enclosed is a check in the amount of [Amount of Donation].

Hi [name], Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out to me and for your interest in our business. We really appreciate you putting your trust in our services. Unfortunately, at this time, we are not able to fulfil your request for you [insert reason: time restraints, not a good fit for the firm, etc].

Example 1:

Thank you for your interest in the X position. The Search Committee has concluded their review of applicants for this position. There were a number of strong candidates applying for the position, and after much deliberation, we regret to inform you that your application is no longer under consideration.

After careful consideration and evaluation of our sponsorship proposal, we regret to inform you that we are unable to accept your generous sponsorship at this time. Please be assured that this decision was not made lightly, and we greatly appreciate your interest and support of our cause.

State That You Are Declining the Offer.

A couple of polite examples include: “Unfortunately, I am unable to accept this offer.” “We regret to inform you that we cannot accept your offer.” “I will not be able to accept your offer at this time.”

I regret that we're unable to go forward with the proposal at this time. We appreciate the quality of this work and the excellent reputation of your company. We'll keep [Company] in mind for any similar projects that come up. Thank you again for putting this together.