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

Most ministry leaders think the hard part of fundraising is getting the yes.

But what happens after that?

Because this is where a lot of people unknowingly make a mistake that slowly disconnects their donors—without realizing it.

They go quiet.

They only reach out when they need something.

Or they just don’t know what to say next.

And over time, the relationship fades.

In this episode, we’re talking about the mistake most people make after a donor says yes—and how to shift your approach so donors stay connected, engaged, and actually want to keep supporting your ministry.

Listen to these next:

69: 3 Reasons Why Donors Aren’t Engaging With Your Ministry Fundraising 

68: How to Start a Fundraising Conversation Without Feeling Pushy

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

You know stories matter in fundraising. But when it’s time to actually use them, everything can start to feel forced. You freeze, overthink, or wonder if you even have a story worth sharing. In this episode, I’m breaking down two simple ways to use story in your ministry fundraising so your message feels clearer, stronger, and far more effective—without sounding salesy or fake.

Similar episodes:

#66 – Ministry Fundraising Without Stories? Build a Simple Story Bank That Keeps Donors Engaged

#63 – Missionary Basics: 5 Steps to Share Your Story Clearly—Even If Fundraising Feels Awkward

#67 – Why Your Nonprofit Fundraising Feels Messy (And How to Build a Foundation That Works)

👉 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

**Last chance to learn how to start the conversation when you're asking for money at the FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising**

Ever feel like your fundraising is just… all over the place?

You’re trying different things—emails, social media, conversations—but nothing really seems to stick. And honestly? It starts to feel discouraging fast.

In this episode, I’m breaking down a simple 3-part marketing plan that will help you finally feel clear, focused, and confident in how you communicate with donors.

Similar Episodes:

62 | Struggling to Fundraise? How a Clear Marketing Plan Can Get Your Ministry Fully Funded

55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support

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

👉 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 the FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn exactly what to say when you ask for money. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising**

You keep showing up. You send the newsletter. You post the update. You share what God is doing. And still… it feels like crickets. No replies. No comments. No real response.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reasons donors stop engaging—and it’s probably not because they don’t care. We’ll talk about the noise they’re living in, why your message may not be connecting emotionally, and the consistency gap that quietly weakens donor trust over time. If you’ve been wondering why people aren’t paying attention, this will help you see what needs to shift.

Similar Episodes: 

59 | 3 Signs Your Fundraising Message is Turning Donors Away

57 | Not Getting Enough Donations? 3 Story Shifts That Inspire People to Give

63 | Missionary Basics: 5 Steps to Share Your Story Clearly—Even If Fundraising Feels Awkward

👉 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 the FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn exactly what to say when you ask for money. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising**

Why does fundraising in ministry feel so awkward… even when you know it matters? That pit in your stomach. The second-guessing. The fear that you’re bothering people or asking for something you don’t deserve.

In this episode, we’re unpacking why that feeling shows up—and how to finally shift out of it so you can start fundraising conversations with clarity and confidence (without feeling pushy or salesy).

If you’ve ever avoided sending that email or delayed reaching out because it just felt… off, this episode is going to hit home.

Similar Episodes: 

63 | Missionary Basics: 5 Steps to Share Your Story Clearly—Even If Fundraising Feels Awkward

55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support

51 | Hate fundraising? 3 Ways to Ease the Ick of Asking for Money

👉 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 my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the ick. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising**

If your fundraising feels scattered… like you’re doing a little bit of everything but none of it really connects—you’re not alone. Most ministry leaders don’t actually have a clear foundation guiding their messaging. So every email, post, or conversation feels like starting from scratch… and it gets exhausting fast.

In this episode, we’re getting back to the root. You’ll learn how to build a simple, clear foundation for your fundraising so everything you say actually works together—and starts leading to real connection with your donors. If you’re tired of guessing what to say and just “throwing things out there”… this is where things start to change.

Similar Episodes:

55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support

58 | Why Your Donors Aren’t Engaging—and 3 Simple Story Fixes That Reignite Connection

46 | Donors Aren’t Responding—Here’s What Your Fundraising Message Is Missing

👉 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 my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the ick. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising**

You know stories are powerful. Stories of impact. Stories of the people your ministry serves. Stories of how God is moving. But when it’s time to write a donor update or newsletter… your mind suddenly goes blank.

In this episode, I share a simple three-step system to build a story bank so you always have meaningful stories ready to share with donors. Instead of waiting for huge transformation stories to appear, you’ll learn how to notice, capture, and store the small moments where God is already at work in your ministry.

Similar Episodes: 

#31 – 4 Steps to Sharing Stories That Engage Donors

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

#43 – Why Your Fundraising Messaging Isn’t Working — And How Storytelling Fixes 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

**Struggling with fundraising? Join the free workshop, Fundraise with Confidence, and learn how to start support conversations without feeling pushy or uncomfortable.

Save your seat: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising **

You care about your donors. You genuinely want to love them well and build real relationships with them. But sometimes you’re not sure what that actually looks like.

How often should you communicate? What should you share? How do you keep donors engaged without feeling like you’re constantly asking for money?

In this episode, I share 3 simple ways to build stronger donor relationships so your supporters stay engaged long-term—and feel like they’re truly part of the mission.

Similar Episodes: 

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

Ep. 32 | Why Do Donors Go Silent? 3 Relationship Gaps Ministries Miss

Ep. 31 | 4 Steps to Sharing Stories That 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

Join my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the ick. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising

Most ministries talk about how to ask for donations. But very few stop to ask a more important question: Who are we actually asking?

In this episode, you’ll hear a real live coaching session where we work through identifying Cherilyn's ideal donor for her ministry. As the conversation unfolds, something powerful happens — the entire perspective on fundraising shifts from asking people for money to realizing you actually have something meaningful to offer the right donor.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re casting a wide net and hoping someone responds, this episode will help you see how clarity about your donor can completely transform your ministry fundraising.

Similar Episodes

#57 – Top Ways to Attract Ideal Donors: A Clearer Approach to Ministry Fundraising

#56 – Why Your Ministry Fundraising Ideas Fail (And the 1 Shift That Changes Everything)

#50 - LIVE COACHING: Identify Your Ministry's Main Need for Fundraising w/ Cherilyn Kolbas

👉 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 my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the “ick.” In one hour, you’ll learn why fundraising feels so uncomfortable, how to reframe it so it feels honest, and what to say to start the conversation. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising **

When someone asks what your ministry does, do you start rambling, listing programs, and hoping it all makes sense? In this episode, I share five simple steps to make your ministry fundraising message clear so donors can quickly understand what you do, why it matters, and how they can partner with you. 

If you want clearer donor communication and more confident fundraising, this episode will help you get there.

Similar Episodes: 

55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support

46 | Donors Aren’t Responding—Here’s What Your Fundraising Message Is Missing

43 | Why Your Fundraising Messaging Isn’t Working—and How Storytelling Fixes 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