Telling Your Story

If you're working to raise funds for your own nonprofit or for a group that you support, you probably know that facts and figures alone generally can't make enough of an impact to entice people to open up their wallets. To inspire real generosity, you need to show your supporters the true impact of their donations. Here are some tips for creating a captivating story.

Answer the question: What inspires you about the organization? Maybe you founded a nonprofit dog rescue group because you came across a horribly abused puppy and nursed him back to health years ago, or you're holding a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because you lost your nephew to leukemia. Whatever motivates you to raise funds, share your story. Your passion for the cause will inspire donors to contribute, too.

Think small. Sure, your group may have helped 500, or even 5,000 people last year. But while that's impressive, it doesn't get at the heart of what you're all about. To inspire your supporters, find one individual success story to share with your supporters. By giving them a small taste of what your work can do, they'll see the value in contributing to your cause.

A picture speaks 1,000 words; a video says even more. A captivating story can help to inspire giving, but to really bring your story to life, nothing helps more than a vivid photograph or a compelling video about your work in the field, featuring interviews and insights from the people you've helped.

Need some more guidance? Check out these great stories for inspiration.

Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. To share the story of a nonprofit group that provides free surgeries and medical treatment for children with disfiguring conditions, we share the story of a girl who was born with a large vascular tumor, called a hemogloba. After numerous treatments from Fresh Start, the child is now a happy, healthy teenager eager to share the story of how the nonprofit improved her life.

Nica HOPE. Working under the umbrella of a larger organization, Fabretto Children's Foundation, Nica HOPE provides educational and job training opportunities to children living and working in Nicaragua's Managua City trash dump. By sharing the project founder's personal story, as well as a compelling slideshow of images from the dump contrasted with photos of the children receiving support and training from Nica HOPE, the fundraising page inspires donors to lend their support to this wonderful group.