Finding The Fundraising Story

In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Julia Campbell, a fundraising consultant specializing in digital communications and storytelling for nonprofits. They discuss the art of storytelling to enhance fundraising efforts, emphasizing its power in connecting with donors on a human level. Julia underscores that stories are fundamental to human communication and processing complex information, which is why they are so effective in fundraising. Julia addresses common challenges fundraisers face, such as determining which stories are worth sharing and navigating confidentiality issues. She highlights the importance of focusing on the "why" of an organization’s mission—its vision for the future and the problem it aims to solve—over the "what" and "how." She suggests thinking like journalists and looking for everyday anecdotes that reflect the mission’s impact, even if they don't involve direct client interviews. The conversation moves to the ethical considerations of storytelling in fundraising. Julia advocates for a "Storyteller Bill of Rights" to ensure the subjects of stories have control over their narratives. Trust between the organization and the storytellers is crucial, as is the respect for their autonomy. She shares her own experience in developing trust with program participants and stresses the importance of evaluating whether the stories would make the storytellers proud if shared publicly. Finally, Julia discusses the value of stories that don’t have happy endings. These narratives can be powerful fundraising tools by illustrating the ongoing challenges and needs within the organization’s mission. Authenticity about the difficulties faced and the progress being made helps donors understand the complexity of the issues and motivates continued support. The episode wraps up with a reminder of the practical courses offered by the Fundraising School, designed to equip nonprofit professionals with skills to enhance their fundraising strategies.