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