Feeling stuck in your fundraising efforts? It might be time to hit pause and do a quick audit of your audience. List out every way your audience connects to your cause. Dig deep—what stories might you have overlooked? Sometimes, the most powerful narratives are hidden in plain sight. Step into their shoes, over and over again. What would resonate with you if you were in their place? Keep shifting your perspective to stay in tune. I dive deeper into these strategies—and how to tackle the “Fear of the Audience”—in my book, The Fundraiser: Fundraisers Aren't Born, They're Built. Fundraising is a skill, and with practice, you'll find donors eager to join the journey alongside you. #Fundraising #Nonprofit #DonorEngagement #Storytelling

To create a compelling story that attracts donors, start by reconnecting with what drew you to the cause. Share that personal story—it’s often relatable and authentic. Look at what resonates with your most active donors to gain insights into messaging that already works well. Consider doing a branding exercise, even if it’s just for yourself, to clarify the core message and the path to achieving your goals. Connect with the people you serve, and use impactful stories, perhaps through video interviews, to bring their experiences to life. Lastly, analyze what hasn’t worked in your past messaging, and refine your approach to avoid those elements, crafting a narrative that speaks directly to your audience's values and motivations.

Creando sentimientos en los lectores lograrás sensibilizar a tus potenciales donantes. Creando historias reales, que hablen de las problemáticas y con una persona central, son características que mejor me han funcionado para crear historias relevantes. En muchas ocasiones, tendrás que aprender a contar una historia en contenidos cortos, como: tiktoks, máximo dos párrafos de contenido, imágenes, etc. En el mundo digital, el tiempo es el KPI del usuario más importante, crea buenas historias con corta duración y serás recompensado.

Sometimes we get so wrapped in the logistics of fundraising - who to ask, the social media campaign, event planning, and grant-writing - that we forget why we are raising funds in the first place. In my case, I am usually raising funds for youth programming. For this reason, I always make sure that all my fundraising efforts have the youth front and center. Yes, we use their photos so donors can see who they are supporting, but we also interview and survey our students. We collect video testimonies. If we host a fund-raising event, we make sure the students are part of the program agenda. Remember, you're not raising funds for your organization. You are raising funds to support your organizations' cause.

If you're struggling to tell compelling stories, ensure you're taking the time to experience your organization's work firsthand. Direct experiences help us tell authentic stories. If you can't see programming firsthand, consider connecting with program team members to hear what stories touched their hearts. In fundraising, distance does not make the heart grow fonder! Connecting others with our mission is easier when we are feeling connected.

Actually I believe that it is as important if not more important to be able to echo THEIR story about their passions around your mission and how their story moves the narrative to further tell a story of how the mission comes alive because the two are sharing the various chapters of a story on impacting the lives of others. We spend way too much time in recent years solely focused on our organizational story and not enough time on the other half of the equation - the individual’s story.

Think of telling your story like setting a stage for an unforgettable play. Start with a character—a real person whose life has changed because of your cause. Add the setting: a vivid glimpse into their world before help arrived. Then bring in the tension: the challenges they faced, painting a scene so real that donors can almost feel it themselves. Finally, reveal the resolution, showing how their support can create a happy ending. When donors can see their role in the story's outcome, they’ll want to be part of it, becoming active players in your mission, not just spectators.

Talk to them about what matters to them using their language and on their platforms. It’s not about what we want. It’s about what they want and our beneficiaries need.

To inspire donors through storytelling, focus on crafting a narrative that deeply resonates and motivates action. According to the principles discussed in my book "Great Writing Made Easy: A Book of Discussion" storytelling for change involves three primary strategies: Centre on People, Not Problems: Start with an individual or small group whose story represents the impact of your cause. Build a Narrative Arc: Structure your story like a journey—present the challenge, highlight moments of resilience, and offer a vision of hope. Create an Emotional Connection: To motivate action, evoke emotions that align with your goals—compassion, hope, urgency. Lastly, always tie the story back to the donor’s potential impact.