How to Tell Stories that Motivate Donors to Give

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1 ...that motivate donors to give ow to ell stories

Transcript of How to Tell Stories that Motivate Donors to Give

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...that motivate donors to give

How to tell stories

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If people in your organization are saying this, your fundraising will fail...

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If people in your organization are saying this, your fundraising will fail...

We’ve got to tell our story!

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Your story is the wrong

story

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The real story is the donor’s story

Show me how I can change the world through

your organization!

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The real story is the donor’s story

Not how awesome you are!

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Donors give for a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with how awesome you are.

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... that’s why bragging is irrelevant in fundraising.

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... that’s why bragging is irrelevant in fundraising.Your job is to connect their values and money with your cause.

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... by making it clear they are the hero in the fundraising situation.

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3 ways to tell a story in fundraising(one right, one wrong, one half-right)

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Organization as hero

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Organization as hero

Heavy on facts & numbers Light on “you” Jargon Boring bullets

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Organization as hero

Heavy on facts & numbers Light on “you” Jargon Boring bullets

JUST DON’T!

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Donor as hero

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Donor as hero

Colloquial Lots of “you”Reveals “why I’m writing” Leads to CTA

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Beneficiary as hero

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Beneficiary as hero

Tends to be over-written Light on “you” Questionable relevance

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Beneficiary as hero

Tends to be over-written Light on “you” Questionable relevance

PROCEED WITH CAUTION

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5 hints for donor-focused

fundraising stories

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Say “you” a lot

#1

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Say “you” a lot

#1

“I’m writing to you because...”“You can help.”“The difference you can make will amaze you.”“Your donation will go to work immediately.”

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Put the donor in the story

#2

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Put the donor in the story

#2

“I wish you could see it.”“You’d understand right away.”“I’m so thankful to have friends like you.”

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Write like your Aunt Ruth

#3

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Write like your Aunt Ruth

#3

(Not like the incredible Hemingway that you are.)

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Keep your heart on your sleeve

#4

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Keep your heart on your sleeve

#4

“It broke my heart.”“I’ve never seen anything so inspiring.”“I thank God for people like you.”

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Avoid statistics

#5

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Avoid statistics

#5

(Facts and numbers undermine even the best stories.)

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Be Yoda.(Your donor is Luke Skywalker.)

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There is no try!Only donate!