Nonprofit storytelling doesn't have to be a tearjerker to move people. It just has to be human. If you're a fundraiser who feels stuck telling the same sad story, this episode will change how you think about your work.

• Rethink the tearjerker story formula
• See donors as partners with a role to play, not an audience to convince
• Use CRM data as a window into real human stories
• Move from solicitation mode to invitation mode
• Find the quiet, powerful story hiding in plain sight
• Give donors a clear role and a genuine place to matter

Clay Buck has spent over 30 years in fundraising, moving from database admin to chief development officer. In this conversation, he challenges the core assumptions baked into how nonprofits approach donor engagement and nonprofit storytelling.

Clay makes the case that donors aren't customers making a transaction. They're partners enacting their own values and identity. When we treat them that way, everything shifts, from our appeals to our data strategy to the stories we choose to tell.

This episode is packed with practical reframes on nonprofit leadership, storytelling, and what it really means to invite someone into a mission.

By the end, you'll know how to:

• Reframe the deficit-based story into something quieter and more powerful
• Identify the stories hiding inside your CRM data
• Shift from solicitation mode into genuine invitation
• Give donors a clear role and a reason to belong
• Use perspective and detail to make any mission feel relatable
• Stop chasing donors who just aren't that into you
• Approach fundraising as community building, not transaction management

Clay Buck is a fundraising strategist, speaker, and principal at Next River Fundraising with more than three decades of experience across performing arts, social services, and homeless services organizations. He has held roles from database administration and grant writing to chief development officer. Clay is known for challenging conventional wisdom in fundraising, including the belief that donors are customers, and for helping organizations move from surface-level transactions to genuine, lasting donor relationships. Learn more at nextriverfundraising.com

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome and intro to Clay Buck 03:20 - Why quiet stories outperform tearjerkers 08:45 - The three-legged stool: donors, nonprofits, and beneficiaries 13:30 - Donors aren't customers: a fundraising reframe 17:00 - Giving as an act of mattering and belonging 19:30 - Donors are data: what your CRM is really telling you 26:00 - Clay's personal story on being too much and being enough

📌 Resources Mentioned

• Clay Buck, Next River Fundraising: nextriverfundraising.com
• Clay on LinkedIn: TKBuck
• Well Told Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, April 30, 2026, Fargo, ND and online: wetellwell.com

🔔 Stay Connected

Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Tellwell: The Podcast. New episodes drop regularly, so subscribe and never fall behind. Visit us at wetellwell.com and connect with us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/wetellwell/

📣 About Tellwell the Podcast

Tellwell: The Podcast is hosted by Max and brought to you by Tellwell, a strategic storytelling agency helping nonprofits raise more money, build stronger communities, and share stories that matter. Each episode features honest conversations with nonprofit leaders, fundraiser

A one-day gathering for nonprofit leaders ready to tell stories that move people to action. Join us at The Magic Factory at Brewhalla for hands-on sessions with master storytellers, practical frameworks you can use immediately, and a community that gets the work you do. Early bird tickets start at $127 in-person or $47 virtual. Register at welltoldconference.com

This nonprofit fundraising podcast explores how to turn one-time givers into lifelong partners. If your fundraising feels stuck in transaction mode, this conversation will show you a better way.

Bethany Hardwig is a philanthropy strategist who has spent years building donor pipelines in higher education and nonprofit spaces. She brings a powerful framework to the table: engagement breeds affinity, and affinity breeds investment. In this episode, she walks through practical strategies for donor engagement, alumni engagement, and major gifts that prioritize relationships over revenue targets.

You'll hear about a housing program she launched at the University of Utah that transformed how alumni connected with students and the institution. The result? Donors who stopped asking for their stipends back and started asking how they could give more. This is impact-centered philanthropy in action, and it works across any mission-driven organization.

By the end, you'll know how to:

• Take every donor "hand raise" seriously and follow up with intention
• Build engagement opportunities that deepen affinity before making asks
• Recognize when your fundraising has crossed into propaganda territory
• Design programs that put donors up close to real impact
• Train your team to lead with love and authentic connection
• Shift from deficit-based messaging to dignity-centered storytelling
• Create a sustainable pipeline of donors at every giving level

Key Quote Highlights:

"There's a fine line between marketing and engagement and propaganda. If I'm reminding you of something that isn't true, I'm lying to you, and love cannot lie to you."

"At a certain point when people raise their hand and you don't call on them, they stop raising their hand. It's my job to take you at your word."

Guest Bio

Bethany Hardwig is a philanthropy strategist and the founder of Signal and Story Studio. She has led donor engagement and alumni relations initiatives at institutions including the University of Utah, where she launched innovative programs that transformed transactional giving into deep community partnership. Her approach centers on authentic relationships, impact-driven storytelling, and creating engagement opportunities that allow donors to see and feel the difference their support makes. Bethany is currently writing a book titled Impact-Centered Philanthropy. Learn more at https://www.signal-and-story.studio/

📌 Resources Mentioned

• Signal and Story Studio: https://www.signal-and-story.studio/
• Bethany's upcoming book: Impact-Centered Philanthropy
• Email Bethany: [email protected]

🔔 Stay Connected

Subscribe to Tellwell: The Podcast so you never miss an episode. Connect with us on LinkedIn for more nonprofit storytelling strategy and fundraising insights that actually work.

📣 About Tellwell: The Podcast

Tellwell: The Podcast is hosted by Max Kringen, Chief Storyteller at Tellwell. Every episode brings you honest, practical conversations with nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and mission-driven professionals who are doing the work and getting results. You'll walk away with frameworks, stories, and strategies you can use immediately to move your mission forward.

#nonprofitfundraising #donorengagement #philanthropy #nonprofitleadership #majorgifts #fundra

A one-day gathering for nonprofit leaders ready to tell stories that move people to action. Join us at The Magic Factory at Brewhalla for hands-on sessions with master storytellers, practical frameworks you can use immediately, and a community that gets the work you do. Early bird tickets start at $127 in-person or $47 virtual. Register at welltoldconference.com

👉 Ready to transform your organization's story into action? Book a free planning call: https://wetellwell.com/get-started

Your nonprofit storytelling might be stuck in reporting mode when it should be in building mode. In this episode of Tellwell: The Podcast, Andrew Jason reveals how he made the shift from journalist to ecosystem builder and why that same shift can transform how your organization connects with donors, volunteers, and community members.

Andrew leads Emerging Prairie and Grand Farm, two organizations that have welcomed over 5,000 visitors from 30 countries in a single year. His secret? Start small, move fast, and invite people to genuinely opt in to your mission. No massive galas required. No perfect plans. Just consistent touchpoints that build real community engagement over time.

This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for nonprofit leaders who feel stuck on the event treadmill or overwhelmed by the pressure to launch big. Andrew shares how his open heart surgery at 21 shaped his urgency and focus on people first, and how that perspective drives everything he builds today.

By the end, you'll know how to:
• Shift from reporting your mission to building your mission through story
• Create on-ramps that invite community members to participate at different levels
• Use small iterative wins to build momentum instead of waiting for the perfect plan
• Develop regular touchpoints that keep your organization top of mind
• Invite donors and volunteers to opt in rather than demanding their attention
• Build depth in your narrative that transforms curious supporters into committed partners
• Put people before technology in everything you design and communicate

Key Quote Highlights:
"The audience will come as far along in the story as you take them."
"At the end of the day, it's about the people. Everything you do comes back to the people and the places."

About Andrew Jason
Andrew Jason is a leader at Emerging Prairie and Grand Farm, organizations focused on ecosystem building and agricultural innovation in the Fargo-Moorhead region and beyond. With nine years of editorial leadership at Spotlight Media and six years building startup and agriculture ecosystems, Andrew brings a unique perspective on how storytelling creates real community impact. Under his leadership, Grand Farm has hosted over 5,000 visitors from 30 countries and worked with 61 organizations on technology demonstrations.
🔗 Learn more at https://grandfarm.com

📌 Resources Mentioned
Grand Farm: https://grandfarm.com
Emerging Prairie: https://emergingprairie.com
Startup Brew (weekly event): https://emergingprairie.com/startupbrew
Tellwell Resources: https://wetellwell.com/resources

🔔 Stay Connected
Subscribe to Tellwell: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. Connect with Tellwell on LinkedIn for more nonprofit storytelling insights and resources.
👉 Ready to transform your organization's story into action? Book a free planning call: https://wetellwell.com/get-started

📣 About Tellwell: The Podcast
Tellwell: The Podcast is hosted by Max, Chief Storyteller at Tellwell. Each episode brings you conversations with nonprofit leaders, consultants, and changemakers who are doing the hard work of mission-driven storytelling. Whether you lead a nonprofit, a university foundation, or a community-driven brand, this show delivers practical strategies to help you stop blending into the noise and start invit

A one-day gathering for nonprofit leaders ready to tell stories that move people to action. Join us at The Magic Factory at Brewhalla for hands-on sessions with master storytellers, practical frameworks you can use immediately, and a community that gets the work you do. Early bird tickets start at $127 in-person or $47 virtual. Register at welltoldconference.com

Many nonprofits are stuck on the fundraising treadmill with little to show for it. This episode on nonprofit revenue strategy shows how to grow without burning out.

 Max Kringen sits down with Sherry Quam Taylor, nonprofit growth expert and founder of QuamTaylor LLC, to unpack what’s really holding mission-driven organizations back. If you're still debating the cost of a website while working 70-hour weeks, this conversation will reframe how you think about general operating revenue, major gifts fundraising, and investment-level donor conversations. A must-listen for leaders ready to stop begging and start building.

By the end, you'll know how to:

• Shift from event-driven fundraising to transformational giving
• Reframe how you talk about general operating revenue with donors
• Spot the hidden costs of “irrational frugality” in your organization
• Lead investment-level donor conversations with confidence
• Align your fundraising strategy with your long-term mission
• Break free from the busywork and focus on scalable revenue activities
• Make the mindset shift from scrappy to sustainable

Key Quote Highlights
"You’re not hiding from donors. You’re hiding from your own potential."
"Events should be a step in the donor journey, not the whole experience."

Guest Bio
Sherry Quam Taylor helps nonprofit leaders scale their revenue by building strong major gifts strategies rooted in confidence and clarity. A former corporate leader turned fundraiser, Sherry has worked with organizations of all sizes to unlock transformational giving without overworking small teams. Her firm, QuamTaylor LLC, empowers leaders to stop being irrationally frugal and start making strategic investments that actually move the mission forward. Learn more at https://www.quamtaylor.com

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Why working harder isn’t working
04:45 Sherry’s journey from corporate to nonprofit growth coach
08:02 What “hours to dollars” fundraising really means
12:45 Breaking free from irrational frugality
20:15 Shifting from event-based asks to major gift relationships
28:00 How to slow down your strategy to speed up your revenue
34:40 The courage to stop hiding and lead boldly
39:00 Peer-to-peer relationships and authentic fundraising

📌 Resources Mentioned

• Sherry Quam Taylor’s website: https://www.quamtaylor.com
• Sherry’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryquamtaylor
• Book: The Answer to How Is Yes by Peter Block
• Ramit Sethi’s podcast and financial philosophy
• Tellwell Story Co.: https://wetellwell.com

🔔 Stay Connected
Enjoying these conversations? Subscribe for more insights that help nonprofits grow with clarity and purpose.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wetellwell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wetellwell
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wetellwell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wetellwell

📣 About Tellwell the Podcast
Hosted by Max Kringen, Tellwell the Podcast dives into the real stories behind mission-driven work. We talk with nonprofit leaders, marketers, and changemakers to explore how storytelling, strategy, and smart creative fuel meaningful growth.

 #nonprofitgrowth #fundraisingstrategy #major gifts #nonprofitleadership #donorrelationships #generaldoperatingrevenue #investmentlevelfundraising

Your most vulnerable stories are your most powerful fundraising tools. Coach Dayna Del Val reveals how to overcome the fear of judgment and build lasting donor trust.

Full Description:

Your most vulnerable stories are your most powerful fundraising tools. Coach Dayna Del Val, former nonprofit CEO of The Arts Partnership, reveals how to overcome the fear of judgment and build the kind of donor trust that secures major gifts.

Nonprofit leaders often hide their most impactful, human moments behind sanitized success stories and generic mission statements. Dayna identifies the root cause: shame and the paralyzing fear of what people will think. This fear creates distance with donors instead of connection.

In this conversation, you'll learn why the most specific stories are actually the most universal—a principle called narrative transportation that transforms passive supporters into committed champions. Dayna shares the "And What Else?" coaching technique to help you and your team peel back surface-level answers and uncover the emotional core that inspires action.

Whether you're an Executive Director, Development Director, or Marketing VP, this episode provides a clear framework for moving past the idea that your mission is "too precious" to share honestly. You'll discover how to identify the external, internal, and philosophical layers of your organization's story—and why leading with humanity is the most reliable path to fundraising success.

Dayna's final reminder: stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. They're not thinking about you. The stories you're afraid to share are exactly what your donors need to hear.

Timestamps: 

• 0:00 - The struggle to share your story honestly 
• 1:45 - Dayna's journey from nonprofit CEO to coach 
• 6:30 - The game-changing feedback that shifted everything 
• 11:50 - Why honest, critical feedback is essential for growth 
• 14:35 - The biggest barrier to donor connection: shame and fear 
• 17:50 - Coaching through shame with small, relatable stories 
• 20:55 - The "And What Else?" technique for uncovering real stories 
• 23:30 - Narrative transportation: why personal stories generate more response 
• 26:10 - Building a community where storytelling drives action
• 29:15 - Settling down and waiting for the quiet answer
• 32:15 - Final wisdom: no one is really thinking about you

Ready to transform your storytelling? Schedule a conversation with the Tellwell team to explore how a human-first strategy can drive your fundraising goals: wetellwell.com

Are you leading an incredible mission-driven organization, yet you find yourself lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering why your most powerful stories aren’t raising the money or driving the engagement you need? It is a common frustration: you are doing vital work, but as you grow, your message starts to fizzle out.

In this episode, we sit down with Jordan McCormick, Executive Director of Furniture Mission of the Red River Valley. Jordan has navigated the intense "growing pains" of taking a volunteer-led concept and scaling it into a regional powerhouse that serves 15 families a day and manages up to 300 pieces of furniture every week.

We explore the transition from "crisis mode" to strategic leadership and the mindset shift required to help people truly start over.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Difference Between Growth and Impact: Why "bigger" isn't always "better," and how to define what success actually looks like for your mission.
• Crisis vs. Noise: How to distinguish between a genuine organizational crisis and a simple problem "dressed up" as one.
• The Power of Dignity: Why mission-driven work should focus on restoring a person's dignity rather than just being "paid in gratitude."
• Leading a "Volunteer Army": Strategies for keeping a team motivated and aligned when the logistics of growth feel overwhelming.
• Living Your Faith Through Action: How simple acts—like providing a bed or a table—can become the ultimate vehicle for your organization's values.

Key Quotes:

About Our Guest:

Jordan McCormick is a Midwest transplant who has built a deeply local, faith-based operation centered on human dignity. Under his leadership, Furniture Mission helps families recovering from crisis—from addiction treatment to emergency shelters—by providing the physical foundation they need to start a new chapter.

About Tellwell:

At Tellwell, we believe clarity is kind. We partner with nonprofits, higher education, and community financial institutions to translate important work into clear, human-first stories that drive action. Whether through impact films, brand strategy, or web design, we help you break through the noise and turn storytelling into real-world results.

Ready to amplify your impact? Learn more about how we can help you tell your story the right way at wetellwell.com.

In our final WellTold minisode of Tellwell: The Podcast, we introduce you to Bridgette Bitzegaio from DonorDock, a passionate advocate for nonprofit empowerment and innovation. Discover how Bridgette artfully bridges the worlds of music and data, and learn about her unique journey from music education to nonprofit leadership.

What You’ll Learn:
🎻 How Bridgette's nonprofit, Adapt Music, uses music enrichment to foster connections across all abilities
📈 The power of personalized donor communications and effective stewardship journeys
🤝 Insights into the Agile Stewardship Model that can transform nonprofit outreach

Exclusive Listener Bonus! Use the code PODCAST at checkout for “Back to Early Bird Pricing” for the WellTold Nonprofit Storytelling Conference! Secure your spot at WellToldConference.com today.

About Our Guest:
Bridgette Bitzegaio is a dedicated account manager and customer success specialist at DonorDock, where she leverages her experience as a nonprofit founder to connect with customers on a deeper level. Her passion for creating genuine connections through music and data makes her an invaluable resource for nonprofits aiming to enhance their donor relations.

📢 Join the Conversation!
🔗 DonorDock.com | LinkedIn: DonorDock

🎙️ Tellwell: The Podcast is your go-to source for nonprofit storytelling and marketing insights. Subscribe, share, and let's amplify stories that drive meaningful change!

In the latest minisode of Tellwell: The Podcast, Max connects with Patrick Kirby, a dynamic force in nonprofit fundraising and the mastermind behind Do Good Better Consulting. Get ready to dive deep into the art and science of relationship building, as Patrick unpacks the power of storytelling in the world of fundraising. Learn how fostering genuine connections can transform donors into lifelong champions of your cause.

What You’ll Learn:
🎯 How storytelling and regular communication can convert a typical donor into a fervent supporter
🤝 Patrick’s unique approach to consulting, emphasizing authentic connections and constant adaptability
💡 A special look at Patrick’s role and insights at the upcoming WellTold Nonprofit Storytelling Conference

Exclusive Listener Bonus! Use the code PODCAST at checkout to knock the price down to Early Bird pricing for WellTold! Secure your place at WellToldConference.com today.

About Our Guest:
Patrick Kirby is the founder of Do Good Better Consulting, where his mission is to assist nonprofits in raising funds by enhancing their storytelling and outreach strategies. Celebrating eight years of impact, Patrick’s enthusiasm and expertise make him a standout resource for any nonprofit professional seeking to amplify their fundraising efforts.

📢 Join the Conversation!
🔗 DoGoodBetterConsulting.com

🎙️ Tellwell: The Podcast is your hub for nonprofit storytelling and marketing insights. Subscribe today, share with your connections, and let's amplify stories that drive change!

Dive into the transformative world of storytelling! In this special minisode of Tellwell: The Podcast, Max sits down with Lisa Nelson-Haynes, Chief Programs Officer at StoryCorps, to explore the profound impact of narrative practice on personal growth and community empowerment. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Lisa's upcoming presentation at WellTold: A Nonprofit Storytelling Conference.

What You’ll Learn:
✨ The concept of storytelling as an evolving practice and its role in overcoming judgments and biases
✨ Lisa’s journey in storytelling and community engagement, spanning her impactful career
✨ An exclusive sneak peek into Lisa’s presentation for WellTold, focusing on ethical storytelling for nonprofits

Exclusive Listener Bonus! Use the code PODCAST at checkout for that will get you back to Early Bird pricing to WellTold! Secure your spot at WellToldConference.com today.

About Our Guest:
Lisa Nelson-Haynes is the Chief of Programming at StoryCorps, where she fosters the organization’s mission to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Join Lisa at WellTold as she shares her expertise in crafting meaningful and impactful stories.

📢 Join the Conversation!
🔗 StoryCorps.org | Instagram: @storycorps

🎙️ Tellwell: The Podcast brings you the latest in nonprofit storytelling and marketing. Subscribe now, share with your circle, and let's tell stories that spark change!

Exciting times for nonprofit storytelling! In this episode of Tellwell the Podcast, Max sits down with Matt and Rob from DonorDock to talk about WellTold: The Nonprofit Storytelling Conference. Get an insider look into how DonorDock has revolutionized CRM solutions for nonprofits and how their passion for storytelling has fueled the success of their company.

What You’ll Learn:
✨ The journey behind DonorDock and their approach to nonprofit technology
✨ How WellTold is set to be unlike any other conference—equipping attendees with actionable storytelling tools and frameworks
✨ Insights into the innovative Agile Stewardship model set to transform donor engagement

Exclusive Listener Bonus! Use the code PODCAST at checkout for that will get you back to Early Bird pricing to WellTold! Secure your spot at WellToldConference.com today.

About Our Guests:
Matt and Rob are two driving forces behind DonorDock’s success. With a mission to simplify and enhance nonprofit operations, they are not just building software—they're building community. Join the DonorDock team at WellTold to learn firsthand how storytelling can catalyze change.

📢 Join the Conversation!
🔗 DonorDock.com | LinkedIn: DonorDock

🎙️ Tellwell the Podcast is your go-to source for nonprofit branding, marketing, and storytelling insights. Subscribe, share with your network, and let's create change together!