by Marc A. Pitman | Jul 12, 2019 | Stories
Wondering why you should come to this year's Nonprofit Storytelling Conference? I could share why I think you should. It's an event like none I've ever been able to be part of. But as a co-producer of the conference, you'd expect me to say that. So here are some...
by Marc A. Pitman | May 21, 2019 | 3. Ask, Fundraising Secrets, Stories
During my time as a leadership and fundraising coach, I've helped thousands of nonprofit leaders clarify their fundraising stories. Nearly all make the same mistake: they forget the audience - the donors. Take hospitals for instance. Have you ever asked hospital...
by Marc A. Pitman | Jan 18, 2019 | Board Members, Stories
But most say overall 2018 fundraising is the same or better than last year's. What a year 2018 was here in the USA. It started with a lot of nonprofit professionals and boards scared that the new charitable deduction would hurt giving. As the year went on, others...
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 stories."...
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,...
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...
