Story‑Driven Fundraising | Missionary, Fundraising Ideas, Donations, Marketing Plan, NonProfit Groups

Fundraise With Confidence is happening LIVE October 5! If fundraising leaves you feeling awkward, guilty, or like you’re begging people for money, this free workshop is for you. We’re going to work through how to let go of that weight and what to say first when talking with potential donors. Save your free seat at irisstorytelling.com/fundraising.

“I can tell the story…but then it feels like, ‘Okay, now open your wallet.’” That’s how Victoria described one of her biggest fears as she prepares to begin raising support for her move to Haiti in 2027.

In this live coaching session, we work through the mindset shift that changes the ask, why a donor’s response isn’t your responsibility, and how to begin building a fundraising message with conflict that actually draws people into the story. If asking for support has ever made your stomach turn, this conversation is for you.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

**Join me live for Fundraise with Confidence on October 5th. We’re going deeper into the mindset behind fundraising and beginning your story-driven fundraising message together. Grab your seat: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising

You believe deeply in your ministry—so why does asking someone to financially support it suddenly make you feel guilty, embarrassed, or even ashamed?

If fundraising leaves you dreading donor conversations, questioning what people will think of you, or sounding scripted the second money comes up, there may be something deeper underneath that discomfort. In this episode, we’re digging into the guilt, shame, and dread surrounding ministry fundraising—and I’ll give you one simple exercise to uncover what you may actually believe about asking for support.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

Ready to feel more confident talking to potential donors? Join me for my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop, where I’ll show you how to start a donor conversation in a way that gets people to lean in and listen.  irisstorytelling.com/fundraising

Feel like you’ve already asked everyone you know to support your ministry? Before you start cold calling, emailing strangers, or desperately looking for more people, there’s something you need to get clear on first.

In this episode, we’re talking about why casting a wider net may actually be making fundraising harder—and how knowing exactly who you’re trying to reach can change your donor conversations, messaging, and fundraising strategy.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

**If fundraising feels awkward, uncomfortable, or you’re never quite sure what to say to potential donors, join me for my free live workshop, Fundraise with Confidence.**

You need more donors. So naturally, you start asking: How do we reach more people? But there may be a more important question to answer first: Who are we actually trying to reach?

In this live coaching session, I help a ministry identify their ideal donor for the first time—and you’ll hear the breakthrough that completely changed the way they thought about finding new supporters.

If you’ve been trying to reach anyone who might give, this episode will help you get much more focused.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

***If fundraising still feels awkward, heavy, or uncomfortable, I’m inviting you to my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop! I’ll show you how to change the way you approach fundraising and how to start a donor conversation using a proven, story-driven approach. 👉 Save your free seat: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising ***

You’ve shared your ministry again and again… so why are potential donors still not connecting?

Before you assume you need to reach more people, your fundraising message may need some work.

In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple 3-step fundraising message audit you can do with your church presentation, donor conversation, newsletter, or ministry pitch. Grab one piece of your current fundraising communication and follow along as we look for three places your message could be losing potential donors.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

**Not sure how to start a donor conversation without it feeling awkward? Join me live and learn what to say to quickly connect donors with your mission and confidently lead toward the ask. Grab your workshop seat: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising**

Your donor conversation is going great… until it’s time to actually ask for money. Suddenly you’re rambling, giving a vague “if you feel led,” or hoping they’ll figure out how to give without you ever clearly asking.

In this episode, we’re looking at why that transition can feel so awkward—even when you’re incredibly passionate about your ministry. I’ll show you how the structure of your fundraising message may actually be creating the awkwardness, and the storytelling shift that helps donors see where they fit long before you make the ask.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

**Ready to fundraise without feeling awkward, embarrassed, or salesy? Join me for my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop. Save your seat at irisstorytelling.com/fundraising

In this live coaching session with missionary Eleanore, we uncover the deeper problem behind her ministry: single mothers caught in a revolving cycle of housing instability, financial struggles, trauma, and crisis. You’ll hear how we turn the vague phrase “families in crisis” into a specific problem donors can picture and emotionally connect with.

You’ll also learn why strong fundraising messages introduce the conflict before the solution, how story structure can shape your donor communication, and why specificity matters when you’re trying to inspire someone to give.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

**Ready to fundraise without feeling awkward, embarrassed, or salesy? Join me for my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop. Save your seat at irisstorytelling.com/fundraising

Asking someone to give to a ministry project can feel easy. Asking them to help pay for your housing, food, transportation, and everyday life? Suddenly fundraising can feel incredibly personal—and even selfish.

In this episode, we’re digging into why raising personal support creates so much tension for missionaries and how changing the way you understand a donor’s role can change the way you ask.  Plus, I’ll give you one simple question to ask yourself before your next donor conversation so you can make a clear ask without carrying all that guilt and awkwardness into it.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

You have a powerful impact story—but you don't know exactly how to use it in your overall message. Should you open with the story? Save it until the end? Put it somewhere in the middle? And how does the story connect to your ministry’s bigger vision without feeling randomly dropped into the message?

In this episode, I’m breaking down two ways I recommend using an impact story in a fundraising presentation, ministry newsletter, gala message, or church presentation.

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com

You finally get a meeting with a potential donor…and then realize you have no idea what you’re actually supposed to say.

In this live coaching episode, I’m helping Cindy prepare for a meeting with a potential business donor. She knows her ministry inside and out—but as she admits, “I could talk all day. But I’m not talking about the right things.”

We work through how to structure the conversation, identify the real problem her ministry solves, keep the message focused on the donor, and make a clear ask without rambling through everything about the ministry.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What should I actually say in a donor meeting?” listen in.

Similar Episodes: 

50 | LIVE COACHING: Clarify Your Ministry Fundraising Message w/ Cherilyn Kolbas

64 | LIVE COACHING: The Donor Clarity That Transformed Her Ministry Fundraising

👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works.

https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read.

https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors.

https://irisstorytelling.com/community

Connect with me:

[email protected]

https://irisstorytelling.com