Living is Giving. Anyone who operates a nonprofit is living these words, loud and proud.
Those who wish to donate know this to be true as well. Sometimes they focus on a cause and sometimes the cause finds them.
Sometimes they want to give, but the choices are overwhelming. Sometimes they are unsure of where their donations will go. Sometimes they don’t believe they have enough to give, money vs time. Sometimes they don’t understand the mission.
Too many “sometimes”, too little time.
It can be easy, it can be simple, to attract a heart-warming, perhaps life-changing gesture of goodwill, a donation that changes the game for your non-profit.
It all begins with a story.
In order to raise more money, you must get people excited to support your cause. And the best way to do that is by telling better stories.
Stories about those who work every day as part of your quest to make the world a better place – your staff, your volunteers.
Stories about those who have seen their lives change because of the work, or dollars from your nonprofit – your “clients”, your why.
Stories about human beings and how they feel when they witness these changes and see the fruits of their contribution – your donors.
The stories are everywhere. The better you tell and share them, the better your donation rate. If you can change minds and behavior, the better your chances of attracting engaged donors and volunteers.
The key words here are “influence behavior.” Think about the way that your mind works. We have stories in our brains about how the world works. And they act like filters. They act like software. The stories tell us what facts to accept and what facts to reject. So whenever you’re trying to influence someone’s behavior, you have to ask yourself first, “What story is in their brain? What stories are they holding onto that make them behave the way they do? And if I want to change that, you need to ask yourself, “What new story can I give them?” – Andy Goodman
Start with the why and work your way forward. The best stories bring it full circle. A good story can change the course of your organization. A great story can change the donor landscape forever. Change is inevitable, growth is optional. The people served by your nonprofit are relying on you to adapt, if what you are doing isn’t working, or isn’t working enough, then it’s time to shift, to change your story, or to invest in telling a different one. One that works. One that attracts. One that is pure and touches the heart.
A great story versus a good story can make the difference between keeping your donors and volunteers connected or losing them to the next good cause. Make sure to put a face on your work every day.”
The key is you’ve got to be willing to change, to take a risk on a really great story and a really great storyteller.
I’m here to help.
Your Storyteller,
Mark Brodinsky
Want Storytelling for your Nonprofit? Contact Mark Brodinsky: markbrodinsky@gmail.com /443-865-2795
Or visit, the home page, https://markbrodinsky.com/storytelling/ and fill out the online form for a free consultation.
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