How to tell me a story…
If you’re a fundraiser, telling a good story is a skill you need. Why? The simplest answer is that stories – not facts – are how we make decisions. But there are lots of delicious layers to that answer. Stories are how we relate Facts – especially statistics – light up a part of our […]
Fundraising isn’t easy…
Fundraising isn’t easy. And there are no magic shortcuts. My friend Ephraim reminded me of this recently. Nonprofit board members or even staff leaders suggesting fundraisers just… call Oprah. Or Bill. Or whats-his-name with the spaceship… That’s not how it works. Really. I’ve witnessed this firsthand, too. An arts organization, talking about the budget. And […]
So you want to write to donors…
Here are some basic rules that I try to keep front of mind when I write to donors. Kind beats clever It’s tempting for a writer to fall in love with clever prose. We read it, we get it, we smile and nod. But if the purpose of your writing is to help people open […]