Our nonprofit is amazing. We do great things every single day. You wouldn’t believe how much we have accomplished. We need you to donate to us so we can do even more in the community. Help us today – now!
Sound familiar?
It’s a story we’ve all seen, right? Nonprofit does good work, community problems are solved…so give them money.
The problem is, fundraising doesn’t work like that. You need to show what great things your organization is doing every single day. You have to grab a reader’s attention with compelling testimonies, photos, video and data.
In other words, you have to show, not tell, why your agency is worthy of someone’s donation.
In the Digital Age, telling engaging stories is vital to the success of your organization. Savvy readers – and ultimately your donors – want to know about your agency’s impact – how you and your staff are making a difference in the lives of your clients and in bettering your community.
Storytelling is critical to the success of your organization. Great stories help explain why you do what you do, what you do, how you make a difference, and what others can do to help. In addition, they get readers interested and wanting more.
Here are a few questions your audience will be asking as they read about your work.
Why should I care?
Make sure you are telling stories that are engaging for your target audience. So the stories you tell your donors might be different from the stories you tell your volunteers or staff members.
Why should I care about you?
There are a lot of nonprofits in your community that, too, are doing great things for the public. Let your audience know what you are doing that is unique to you and sets you apart from other agencies.
Why should I keep reading?
Focus on your challenges and obstacles. Yes, they make for good storytelling. Describe how your clients overcame the hardship of learning a new language or rebounding from unemployment or starting over after drug addiction. You need to take your readers on a journey, and any interesting journey will include a few bumps in the road.
What do you want from me?
Your stories should include a call-to-action, but it can’t always be for donations or for attending your events. Building relationships takes time, so be sure to empower readers with your stories before asking them to open up their wallets.
