In a previous post, we made sure to emphasize the importance of story-telling in your fundraising efforts, and emphasized that the better you tell your story, the better your mission will resonate with donors and the more funds you will raise.  Luckily, you don’t have to take only our word for it!  As an accomplished and seasoned nonprofit professional, Pamela Barden knows a thing or two about fundraising.  She offers some insightful information about storytelling on the Fundraising Success web page.

While your fundraising story may not find itself deserving of any literary awards or on the New York Times best-seller list, there’s no reason it should be dry and soulless.  “Unfortunately, we get lazy and fall back on talking about ourselves or using timeworn clichés instead of seeking out a great story that will pull our donors and prospects into the heart of the action . . .” says Pamela.

So what can you do to find the right story?

Well, first off, a good story starts with the right questions.  “You need to find your own style of interviewing and develop your own questions based on the kind of work your organization does,” Pamela advises.  “When you are comfortable about the process and the person you are interviewing is comfortable, you are far more likely to end up with a great story.”

Next, a truly good story will always leave the listener wanting more, whether they realize it or not.  Donors and supporters always want to see progress and witness the positive effects their contributions are having, but a fundraiser also needs to convey that there is still more to be done.  “Strive to tell stories that show how someone or something has benefited, but also leave the reader excited about making a gift so you can repeat that success again.”

For more guidance from Pamela Barden, please read her full article here.