Storytelling Archives

3 Elements of Every Effective Fundraising Story

December 5, 2022

Jeff Brooks

There’s a lot of theory about storytelling out there. Some of it is very helpful for hardworking fundraisers like you. Here’s what Writer’s Digest says every story needs: Orientation: The beginning of a story must grab the reader’s attention. Crisis: Something…

Are You Fundraising in the Right “World”? It Makes All the Difference!

October 17, 2022

Russell James

Donor Psychology, Storytelling

One of the reasons fundraising is such a challenge is that all of us – donors and fundraisers alike – live simultaneously in two different worlds: “Story World,” the part of the human mind that acts on emotion, social cues,…

What Behavioral Science Tells Us about Stories and Math in Fundraising

July 18, 2022

Russell James

Maths of Fundraising, Storytelling

Excerpted from The Storytelling Fundraiser by Professor Russell James. The full book (along with many other fundraising resources) is available for free at Encourage Generosity. For nonprofit managers, numbers are important. Numbers define success or failure. Numbers keep the lights…

Fundraising Story Goes from Good to GREAT [Case Study]

July 11, 2022

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling, Writing

You know telling stories is the better way to motivate donors to give. You’ve probably also seen how that is much easier said than done. One of the main challenges is this: The story most likely to move donors is…

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Arts and Culture Fundraising: the Story to Tell When Nobody Is Dying

July 15, 2019

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling

The standard formula for a fundraising message goes like this: Something is not right. It needs to be changed, or somebody might suffer in some terrible way — maybe even die. By making a donation now, you can save a…

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Nobel Prize Winner Demonstrates the Power of Story

April 22, 2019

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling

Denis Mukwege, 2018 co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, used his Nobel address to masterfully tell stories about his work with survivors of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main story he tells is a harrowing…

Effective Fundraising Is Always a “Choose Your Own Adventure” Story

November 19, 2018

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling

Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? They are kid-fiction adventures that originated in the late 70s. Each book is narrated in the second person — you — and offers periodic decision points for the reader. It goes something like…

5 Professional Tips for Making Your Fundraising Stories Sing

April 3, 2018

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling

Jeff Brooks joins long-time friend and colleague, Kristine Poggioli to talk about writing great stories for fundraising — for direct mail, email, or any other medium. Kristine’s tips for fundraising stories that really do the job: Grab the reader’s attention…

Angry Bees and Direct Mail Fundraising

February 19, 2018

Sean Triner

Storytelling

Not long ago, when I was in Toronto airport on Canada Day (1st July) I read a fascinating story about a ‘Transportation mishap’ (no kidding, that is what the local paper called it). A truck with millions of bees had…

The Uncomfortable Blessing of Fundraising

February 19, 2018

Jeff Brooks

Storytelling

I was in Uganda, gathering stories on behalf of a client. At that time, Uganda was Ground Zero of the AIDS epidemic. The disease had devastated parts of the country, killing nearly all adults under 60. The tranquil beauty of…

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3 Elements of Every Effective Fundraising Story

Are You Fundraising in the Right “World”? It Makes All the Difference!

What Behavioral Science Tells Us about Stories and Math in Fundraising

Fundraising Story Goes from Good to GREAT [Case Study]

Arts and Culture Fundraising: the Story to Tell When Nobody Is Dying

Nobel Prize Winner Demonstrates the Power of Story

Effective Fundraising Is Always a “Choose Your Own Adventure” Story

5 Professional Tips for Making Your Fundraising Stories Sing

Angry Bees and Direct Mail Fundraising

The Uncomfortable Blessing of Fundraising

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Jeff Brooks’ Webinar: Your Roadmap to Record-Smashing Direct Mail This Year End

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