by Marc A. Pitman | Nov 14, 2017 | 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets, Stories
I've just getting back from the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference so it’s likely no surprise stories are on my mind.At the conference this year, I noticed talk about 2 types of nonprofit stories. I heard talk about "institutional stories" and "donor...
by Marc A. Pitman | Jul 20, 2017 | 2. Engage, 3. Ask, Fundraising Letters, Fundraising Secrets, Stories
I recently blogged about a storytelling tip for nonprofit leaders that I learned from Kindra Hall. The tip is especially powerful in nonprofit fundraising.Kindra took the millenia old story structure - beginning, middle, end - and reframed it as normal, explosion, new...
by Marc A. Pitman | Jun 19, 2017 | 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets, Stories
Years ago, I wrote about Zig Ziglar teaching that nobody wants a drill. He said millions of drills are sold every year. But no one wants a drill. They want a hole. The same is true with donors.No donor wants to make a donation. Donors want the value the donation will...
by Marc A. Pitman | Nov 3, 2016 | Specials, Stories
There are only 6 more tickets left for next week's Nonprofit Storytelling Conference in Chicago. I've personally never seen a conference make this much of a difference to attendees and the organizations they work for. I hope you won't miss out!See the...
by Dennis Fischman | Jun 23, 2016 | Guest Posts, Stories
It was the midst of the Great Recession, and about one in ten people across the U.S. were out of work. Amadou was one of them.Unemployment benefits helped his family, for a while. But he had worked for a low wage, and his benefits were only a fraction of that—and then...
by Marc A. Pitman | Nov 3, 2015 | 3. Ask, Stories
Last week at the Blackbaud conference, I heard yet another story of good fundraising letters being eviscerated by marketing. Unfortunately, it happens all the time.A fundraiser studies her craft, reads the results of fundraising tests, and creates a compelling appeal....
