5 ways to tell better stories for fundraising

Fundraising depends on stories. Not just any old story, but one that connects with the reader and impels them to action.

Here are some common errors fundraising writers make that let make their stories ineffective, from the Stelter Insights Blog, at 5 storytelling mistakes (and how to avoid them):

1. No real barriers. A story is about change. If your story doesn’t have a problem or a challenge, or something broken that needs to be fixed, it’s not really a story.
   
2. Lack of details. Details, especially those that connect to the senses, make stories much more immediate and real.
   
3. Too many details. But leave out things that don’t carry the story forward and make it feel real.
   
4. No real hook. What makes the story memorable? Find that thing that’s startling, unusual, or amazing.
   
5. No person. Your story is not going anywhere if it’s not about a person. One person.
   

And remember this: No matter what story you tell, the real story must be about the donor.

Leave the donor with the ability to enter the story by donating, and changing its ending to a happy one.