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

Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare. Wendy, a faithful follower of Jesus, never imagined it would happen to her, and yet it did. Why would God allow it? Wasn't He their protector? Didn't He know the good that her son could've done in the world? 

Wendy opens up about the anger, doubt, and feelings of betrayal that followed, the moment she chose to worship in the dirt where her son took his last breath, and how God met her there in the midst of unbearable pain. Her story offers hope for anyone questioning God’s goodness after loss.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The early days of grief and her response to God
• How Wendy’s view of God was transformed through the pain
• The role of worship and honesty in healing
• How to walk with others through deep loss

If you or someone you love has experienced profound loss, this conversation will remind you that God can handle our hardest questions—and that hope can still rise from heartbreak.

Similar Episodes: 

03 | Pouring Out & Still Failing w/ Jackie Prevost

07 | Forgotten by God: Grief, Doubt & Hope w/ Ben & Jessi Bock

11 | Persevering Through Years of Hardship w/ Margo & Joe Carl

👉 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’ve ever stared at your ministry’s social media page wondering “What do I even post?” — this episode is for you!

I'll break down a simple, story-driven approach to creating posts that actually grab attention and get people to engage. You’ll learn how to think strategically about each platform, write captions that hook your audience, and guide followers toward meaningful next steps that strengthen donor relationships.

Whether you’re running your ministry’s social media yourself or managing a small team, this episode will help you replace the overwhelm with clarity and confidence.

🧭 What You’ll Learn

1. How to tailor your posts to fit your ministry’s priority platform
2. The storytelling secret to capturing attention and engagement
3. Why one clear call-to-action per post makes all the difference

Similar Episodes: 

09 | 5 Steps to Write Your Ministry Update Email So Donors Engage

17 | When Fundraising Videos Don't Work - 3 Steps for Clear Donor Messaging

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

Are you worried your donors will start to fade or monthly gifts slow down?  It’s normal to feel anxious when supporters stop giving—especially when your ministry depends on their generosity. 

But instead of blaming the economy or your donors’ circumstances, what if you could take simple steps to rebuild trust, re-engage hearts, and keep those donations steady?

In this episode, I'll share 3 practical ways to strengthen your donor relationships so your supporters stay connected for the long haul. You’ll learn:

💡 Why donors stop giving—and what you can do about it

💡 Simple communication shifts that make supporters feel like part of the team

💡 How to keep consistent engagement without adding hours to your plate

💡 The key to showing impact in a way that rekindles generosity

Whether you’re leading a ministry, nonprofit group, or missions organization, these steps will help you create long-term supporter relationships that keep your donations flowing—and your ministry thriving.

Similar Episodes: 

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

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

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’ve ever poured your heart into a presentation, shared stories from your ministry, and still walked away wondering why no one gave—this one's for you.

In today’s episode, I'll share 3 things every fundraiser must make crystal clear before stepping on stage, sending that year-end appeal, or meeting with potential supporters.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify and speak directly to your ideal donor, not the entire crowd.
• Why starting with the need or conflict creates instant engagement.
• How to craft a clear, confident ask so people know exactly how to respond.

Whether you’re prepping for a year-end event, a church presentation, or just trying to boost monthly giving, these practical tools will help you communicate your message with confidence and connect with donors in a deeper way.

Similar Episodes: 

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

04 | Get Your Donors to Pay Attention Amidst the Noise

10 | Struggling with Donor Communication? What God Says About Imposter Syndrome

👉 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’ve prayed for years for your marriage and nothing seems to change, what do you do?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Uliana Komodi, who shares her raw, faith-filled story of waiting, heartbreak, and perseverance — trusting God for marriage restoration for 8 long years.

Uliana opens up about the pain of watching her husband walk away, the moment she told God she was done, and how the Lord gently drew her back to faith, hope, and forgiveness. Through years of surrender and prayer, God brought healing.

If you’re walking through a season of waiting, disappointment, or a relationship that feels impossible to fix, this testimony will strengthen your faith and remind you that no story is too broken for God to redeem.

In this episode:

• The breaking point that changed everything
• What it looks like to wait on God without losing hope
• How to pray when your faith feels gone
• What true surrender and forgiveness look like in marriage restoration
• Encouragement for women in ministry walking through hard seasons

Similar Episodes: 

03 | Pouring Out & Still Failing w/ Jackie Prevost

07 | Forgotten by God: Grief, Doubt, and Hope w/ Ben & Jessi Bock

11 | Persevering Through Years of Hardship w/ Margo & Joe Carl

👉 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 fundraising feel icky, awkward, or like a “necessary evil”? Many women ministry leaders feel stuck—tired of asking, unsure how to talk to supporters, and worried how their ask will come across. 

In this episode, we'll reframe fundraising through a biblical lens (2 Corinthians 8) and shows how to invite supporters into God’s work without guilt or pressure.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to find the right donors who already share your heart for the people you serve—so you’re not convincing, you’re connecting.
• Why donors aren’t outsiders and how to communicate so supporters truly feel like part of the team (with loyalty, prayer, and ownership).
• How to take yourself out of the ask and offer the gift of participation—inviting donor transformation instead of “begging for money.”

Similar Episodes: 

06 | From Fundraising Dread to Joyfully Sharing Your Mission

10 | Struggling With Donor Communication? What God Says About Imposter Syndrome

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

Your fundraising videos look great—but they’re not bringing in the donor support you hoped for. Sound familiar? The truth is, even the most powerful film can only do so much if your message isn’t clear.

In today’s episode, I’ll share three key steps to clarify your ministry fundraising message so that your videos (and every other piece of communication) connect with donors in the most effective way. 

You’ll hear:

• How to identify the gaps in your current donor communication
• Three practical steps to strengthen your messaging so every video works harder for you
• Encouragement to see fundraising as ministry, not just a task

If you’ve been frustrated by videos that look great but don’t bring in lasting donor support, this episode will give you a roadmap to fix the missing piece.

Similar Episodes: 

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

02 | Donors Aren't Growing? This Could Be Why

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

You’ve shared your ministry vision, made the ask, and then... crickets. 

It’s frustrating, discouraging, and it leaves you wondering what went wrong.

In this episode, we’ll unpack the #1 thing every donor ask needs that will help move people from silence to a clear understanding, and drive them to action.

You’ll learn:

• Why many ministry leaders unintentionally leave this piece out of their ask
• How adding it creates clarity for donors and reduces ghosting
• Why ***every single ask*** should include it

Whether you’re raising monthly support, funding a new project, or building donor relationships for the long haul, this episode will help you take the awkwardness out of asking and start getting clearer responses.

Similar Episodes: 

04 | Get Your Donors to Pay Attention Amidst the Noise

06 | From Fundraising Dread to Joyfully Sharing Your Mission

09 | 5 Steps to Write Your Ministry Update Email 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

Are you quietly unhappy in ministry, feeling burned out, or wondering how long you can keep going? You’re not alone. In this conversation with Jourdan Lunsford, we talk about the hidden pain many women ministry leaders carry—and the steps toward healing, joy, and sustainable ministry.

Jourdan shares her journey of laying down identity tied to ministry roles, processing unresolved pain, and discovering the power of Sabbath, stillness, and safe vulnerability. If you’ve ever felt the weight of shame, busyness, or burnout, this episode will meet you right where you are.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why shame is such a sneaky lie in ministry
• How to recognize the warning signs of burnout
• How finding safe places for vulnerability brings healing and freedom

Connect with Jourdan on her podcast, Failing Loudly, and learn more on her website.

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with another woman in ministry who might need the reminder that she is not alone! 

👉 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 ever shared about your ministry and gotten that polite smile… but deep down you knew they didn’t really get it? Maybe their eyes glazed over, or they nodded along, but you could tell your words weren’t landing. It’s frustrating, right? You know your ministry matters. You’ve seen God move. But somehow donors aren’t connecting.

In this episode, I’m breaking down three sneaky things that might be confusing your donors. These are super common, and I see them all the time when I work with ministry leaders. The good news? Once you spot them, you can start shifting your communication so donors actually understand what you do—and feel excited to be part of it.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why even your best updates might not be sticking
• The reason donors don’t always see where they fit (and how to change that)
• How to make it crystal clear what their next step should be

If you’ve been trying “all the things” and still feel like donors aren’t listening, this episode will give you clarity and direction so you can stop spinning your wheels and start seeing fruit.

👉 Ready to dig deeper? I’d love to walk you through this in my 1:1 coaching. You can check out all the details at irisstorytelling.com/workshop.

And hey—if this podcast has been helpful for you, it would mean the world if you’d pause for five seconds and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple or Spotify. That little act helps other women ministry leaders find this podcast and get the encouragement they need too.

Similar Episodes: 

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

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

👉 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