What do baby shoes have to do with fundraising? Well, Joe Friday would make a terrible fundraiser. Joe wanted “just the facts, ma’am.” (For those of you who didn’t grow up watching Dragnet, here’s a taste.) That’s not to say fundraising communications should not be true. It’s just that there’s so much more to it […]
How you can find a good story
How do you find a good story? If your organization wants to communicate well with donors – in a way that moves them to feel connected to your mission – you’ll need stories. Stories are how we relate… and have been forever. It’s a human thing. Consider Neanderthal cave art. Even before we were Homo […]
Why your good story leads to a better world
If you’ve been wondering why I’m making such a fuss about stories, read on. Here’s the thing. Insiders (that would be you, nonprofit hero) understand all the details. We eat, sleep, and drink our organizations’ missions – the “why” of our work. But almost none of your donors or might-be donors do. They have their […]
Where are all my stories hiding?
Where do you find the stories you need? So you’re (more) convinced that stories are the way to win over hearts. But now comes the big challenge. Where do I find our stories? I understand. It’s hard! We’ve all been carefully trained to judge our work using metrics. (And you must do that!) But what […]
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 […]