“Have a minute to save a life?” Everyone dreads the canvassers who wait in the middle of the street and call you down to press you for donations. Most people make a point of avoiding eye contact and pretending to be on their phones. It’s not that we don’t want to help, but we don’t […]
How to Fundraise for International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day, on March 8 every year has been celebrated since the early 1900s but has gotten more traction in recent years as the international development community has amped up its efforts online and offline. Now, hundreds, if not thousands of organizations raise funds and run awareness and advocacy campaigns for this global day […]
Keys to Brilliant Nonprofit Storytelling Part 4: Story Structure
Welcome to the fourth and final part of our series on nonprofit storytelling from the Storytelling for Business course by Kevin Allison at StoryStudio.org. If you’re just joining us now, make sure to catch up on Parts 1, 2, and 3 to learn about the basic requirements of a story, how to account for your […]
Keys to Brilliant Nonprofit Storytelling Part 3: Scene vs. Narrative
Welcome to the third installment of our series on the mechanics of great nonprofit storytelling from the Storytelling for Business course by Kevin Allison at the StoryStudio.org. Part 1 covered the things that make your story different from simply sharing the facts about your nonprofit, and Part 2 provided insight on how to adjust your […]
5 Psychology Tips for Powerful Messaging
When you started your nonprofit or social enterprise, you probably weren’t doing it to become a marketer. After all, you’re not selling used cars! Why should you have to do anything more than tell your story with the passion you can have? The nonprofit world needs as much savvy marketing as the for-profit sector, perhaps […]
Keys to Brilliant Nonprofit Storytelling Part 2: Consider Your Audience
Welcome to Part 2 of our series on the elements of great of storytelling for nonprofit fundraising, from the Storytelling for Business course by Kevin Allison at the StoryStudio.org. In Part 1, I covered the essentials of a story: emotional arc and a person to relate to. Part 2 is about the second most important […]
Keys to Brilliant Nonprofit Storytelling Part 1: Emotional Arc and Character
Welcome to the first post in a series about the mechanics of great storytelling, from the Storytelling for Business course by Kevin Allison at the StoryStudio.org. You already know that telling a story is key to reaching the hearts of your donors, but do you know exactly what that means? What to say, when to […]
6 Nonprofit Thought Leaders You Need To Follow
Dan Pallotta – Author of Uncharitable Dan Pallotta created the multi-day charitable event industry. Think cross country bike rides for charity. These events made it possible for individuals to raise large sums of money for the charities and causes they cared about, basically a kind of crowdfunding. Pallotta is, thus, one of the great innovators in the […]
Why Storytelling is Key To Nonprofit Fundraising
Don’t get so caught up in the details of your nonprofit that you forget to convey the human story behind it. While grantmakers and foundations may be more concerned with your business plan, donors give to people with causes, not to credentials and projections. Studies show that people ultimately make buying decisions based on emotions. […]
5 Tips to Handle Suggestions from you Supporters
Passionate, deeply involved supporters are a godsend, but when they start to provide well-intentioned feedback, it can be more distracting than helpful. Here are some pointers on separating the wheat from the chaff and fielding supporter feedback. 1. Consider the Source Some of the loudest opinions come from the least credible sources. Don’t get caught […]
