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

Most ministry leaders know they should send newsletters, but writing them often feels confusing, overwhelming, or like a task that isn’t actually helping their fundraising. In this episode, we break down how to turn your ministry newsletter into a trust-building tool by shifting your mindset, writing with intentionality, involving donors in the story, and staying consistent. You’ll learn how to communicate in a way that makes donors feel valued, connected, and eager to stay engaged—so your newsletters actually support your fundraising instead of draining your energy.

👉 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

Why do donors go quiet—even when they believe in your ministry? In this episode, we unpack the three relationship gaps most ministries overlook and how they quietly lead to donor drift. You’ll learn why supporters stop engaging, what they need to feel connected, and the simple relational shifts that build trust and long-term partnership. If donor communication feels hard or inconsistent, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and practical steps to restore genuine connection.

Similar Episodes: 

21 | When Donors Drop Off: 3 Ways to Keep Donations Flowing

16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

14 | 3 Things Confusing Your Donors (and How to Fix Them)

👉 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

Ever felt overwhelmed, thinking “I should share stories with donors…but I don’t even know where to start,”?

You already know how powerful stories are—especially when you see God transforming lives through your ministry. Those stories lift you, encourage you, and remind you exactly why you do what you do.

But when it’s time to share those stories with donors and supporters?

Suddenly it feels hard.

Maybe you don’t know which stories to tell… or how to tell them well… or you feel like all your stories sound the same.

The good news? You can tell powerful stories—even if you don’t consider yourself a storyteller. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down a simple 4-step framework to help you find the right story, tell it clearly, and share it in a way that engages donors and highlights the work God is doing through your ministry.

What You’ll Learn

• The essential first step that makes any story instantly more compelling
• Why emotional clarity—not creativity—is what truly connects your donor to the story
• A simple structure you can follow to share stories confidently in emails, donor updates, social posts, or on stage

Similar Episodes: 

24 | How to Find Stories That Inspire Donors (Even When Ministry Feels Quiet)

16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

12 | Ministry Storytelling Made Simple: A Framework to Engage 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

If you’re struggling to grow your donor base, build monthly support, or create real momentum in your fundraising… this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been missing.

In this episode, you’ll learn the three  common fundraising mistakes ministries make that unintentionally lose donors—and the simple mindset and messaging shifts that will help you fix them.

What You’ll Learn

• The surprising clarity gaps that quietly push donors away (and how a small shift can open the door to more support)
• Why your current messaging may be working against you—and how to reshape it so donors immediately understand the heart of your ministry
• A simple framework that helps you communicate your mission in a way that draws the right supporters and builds lasting monthly partnerships

Similar Episodes: 

26 | Your 5-Minute Window: The 5-Step Framework to Instantly Engage Donors at Church

21 | When Donors Drop Off: 3 Ways to Keep Donations Flowing

18 | Hate Fundraising? 3 Things to Get Rid of the Shame of Asking

👉 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

Have you been discouraged, ignored, or brushed off while trying to raise support—especially by pastors or church leaders?

Maybe you’ve reached out for meetings, sent messages, shared your heart, and still… nothing.

Or worse, they take the meeting, but they don’t take you seriously.

And if you’re a woman leader, it can feel even more painful.

You may wonder:

“Do they respect my calling?”

“Would they listen if I were a man?”

“Is anyone ever going to give me a chance?”

In this episode, we unpack why this happens—and what you can actually do about it. You’ll learn the three steps that bring clarity, confidence, and peace when fundraising feels like a dead end.

What You’ll Learn

• Why some people simply will not respond to your message—and why it’s not your fault.
• How to tailor your messaging so the right people finally pay attention.
• When to stop striving and release the outcome to God with confidence.

Similar Episodes: 

04 | Get Your Donors To Pay Attention Amidst the Noise

09 | 5 Steps to Write Your Ministry Newsletter So Donors Engage

13 | Low Donor Growth? 3 Things to Prioritize in Your Donor Communication

👉 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 you’re ending the year feeling discouraged, burned out, or wondering why your ministry isn’t further along… this episode is for you.

Maybe you expected more donors… more financial stability… more momentum.

Maybe you’ve tried everything—posting consistently, sharing stats, updating your messaging, sharing all the incredible things your ministry does—and yet nothing seems to stick.

If you’re tired of doing “all the things” and seeing little response, this episode will encourage you, give you clarity, and help you focus on what actually moves donors to action.

What You’ll Learn

• Why your messaging may not be working even when your ministry is doing amazing things.
• How one story can move donors faster than stats, announcements, or platforms ever will.
• The one mindset shift that helps you stop striving and start communicating with clarity.

Similar Episodes: 

01 | Why Don't Donors Care Like I Do? How to Increase Donor Engagement

05 | 7 Steps to Engage Your Donor: The Story Framework

14 | 3 Things Confusing Your Donors (and How to Fix Them)

👉 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

What happens when your ministry has a powerful vision—but no clear direction?

In today’s episode, I sit down with my mom, a missionary to Spain for over 40 years, to talk about how their team had a God-given dream to share the gospel in every province of Spain—but no real plan for how to do it.

After countless hours of footage, and no cohesive story, everything shifted when they discovered the power of story structure. What started as an unfocused idea grew into a nationwide storytelling movement that produced 52 short films—now shared around the world in nine languages.

You’ll hear how storytelling brought clarity, creativity, and direction to their ministry vision, and how God continues to use these testimonies to reach hearts across nations.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why a clear story structure can turn confusion into clarity for your ministry vision.
• How testimonies connect with people more powerfully than facts or information.
• The spiritual and practical impact of telling real stories with intentionality.

Join the free community for Women Leaders fundraising for ministry.

Watch the films here: https://www.youtube.com/@aporlas52

👉 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 walk on stage. The timer starts. You’ve got five minutes—just five—to share what God is doing through your ministry and invite people to be part of it.

How do you get people interested that quickly?

How do you move hearts in such a short window without sounding rushed or overwhelmed?

In this episode, I'll break down a 5-step storytelling framework that will help you make the most of your 5-Minute Window. You’ll learn exactly what to say (and what not to say) to capture attention, connect emotionally, and inspire donors to take action—without feeling salesy or scattered.

Whether you’re presenting at a church service, missions Sunday, or a partner banquet, this simple structure will help you share your story with confidence and clarity.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• How to open with a story hook that immediately captures attention
• The 5-step structure for crafting a donor-focused presentation that connects and converts
• How to call people to action in a way that feels natural and spirit-led

Similar Episodes: 

20 | Still Not Seeing Donations? 3 Things Every Fundraiser Must Make Crystal Clear

05 | 7 Steps to Engage Your Donor: The Story Framework

09 | 5 Steps to Write Your Ministry Newsletter So Donors Engage

👉 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

As ministries approach year-end giving season, it’s easy to feel the pressure to “wow” donors with staggering statistics or shocking facts. But here’s the truth: numbers don’t move people.

In this episode, I'll unpack the science behind why people make decisions emotionally before they ever think logically. You’ll learn why statistics often fail to connect with donors and how to use storytelling to engage their hearts first—then support your story with numbers that actually stick.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• Why statistics and logic alone don’t motivate giving
• The right way to pair storytelling and statistics so donors see both heart and impact
• How this approach transforms year-end fundraising and everyday donor communication

Similar Episodes: 

16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

21 | When Donors Drop Off: 3 Ways to Keep Donations Flowing

12 | Ministry Storytelling Made Simple: A Framework to Engage 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

Does your ministry ever hit a “quiet” season—when nothing big is happening, donations feel slow, and you’re not sure what to say in your newsletter? 

In this episode, I share how to stay encouraged and keep your donor communication strong, even when ministry feels dry or uneventful.

What You’ll Learn

1. How to recognize God’s work when ministry feels quiet or slow.
2. Simple fundraising ideas for when you think there’s “nothing to share.”
3. How to find and tell one person’s story that connects emotionally with donors and encourages ongoing donations.

Similar Episodes: 

08 | 3 Steps to Build a Ministry Story Bank that Engages Donors

20 | Still Not Seeing Donations? 3 Things Every Fundraiser Must Make Crystal Clear

16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

👉 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