Tag Archives: nonprofit workshop

Kick-Start Your Organization’s Story

Kick Start CardI am heading off to the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Fundraising Professionals Annual Conference today. On Friday, I will be giving a workshop on Framing the Ask: A Storytelling Approach to Individual Donor Fundraising. Instead of handing out pens with the Creation In Common logo on it, we are handing out small 4″X6″ packets called Kick-Start Your Story. Inside are full-color index cards with famous quotes on storytelling along with six questions to help you tell your nonprofit organization’s story. Here are the questions:

    Hero: What participant or supporter of your organization best illustrates the value of your work?

    Exposition: What was life like for your hero just prior to connecting with your organization?

    Inciting Incident: What was the moment your hero’s life began to change and what was the role your organization played in that transformation?

    Rising Action: What barriers did your hero face on his or her journey and how — with your organization’s help — did they overcome them?

    Moment of Truth: How did your hero’s situation change dramatically since engaging with your organization?

    Resolution: How can your audience join the effort?

If you are interested in receiving a packet (supplies are limited), please let us know at info@creationincommon.com and in the subject line write: “Kick-Start Cards”.

Bookmark Advisor to Superheroes

Summer: A Time to Strategize

starthrower I often think about a special moment with my collaborators, Dana and Padraic. We had given ourselves two days to develop a plan. Two whole days to do nothing but imagine what we wanted to accomplish and envision how to make it happen. It was time well spent. What emerged in that short period of time has guided us for the last eight years.

This is why we have assembled a Strategy Intensive this summer for nonprofit organizations. An intense and focused time, without distraction, to build an individual donor fundraising plan. We see this as an opportunity to bring together groups of organizations to work together to share and refine strategies as well as to further deepen our understanding of how each individual organization add so much to whole.

Go here to learn more abou the workshop. It will be based in Saint Paul, MN but we are encouraging folks from all over to come and join us for what will be a very productive and fruitful two days. I don’t think we should underestimate what can emerge from having time to plan.

Bookmark Advisor to Superheroes