{"id":52299,"date":"2021-06-15T20:37:38","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T20:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/virtuous.org\/raise\/2021\/06\/15\/keeping-your-fundraising-fresh\/"},"modified":"2021-06-15T20:37:38","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T20:37:38","slug":"keeping-your-fundraising-fresh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/virtuous.org\/raise\/keeping-your-fundraising-fresh\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Your Fundraising Fresh (Even When You\u2019re Telling The Same Story Again)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Maybe you\u2019ve been there before. At first, you were excited to get the word out to donors about what your nonprofit is doing. But now\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re sitting at your computer about to create your next email appeal, blog post, or social media post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the thought of telling the same old story again just drains you of any excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ve heard it all before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families are in trouble. Climate is changing. Orphaned animals need a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you do when the story becomes stale?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How do you tell the same story over and over again in fresh ways without losing the plot?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, take a deep breath for starters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raising funds is a marathon endeavor.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The daily grind of writing content, analyzing results, honing your digital fundraising skills, can wear you down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But <\/strong>consistent<\/em><\/strong> and <\/strong>disciplined<\/em><\/strong> messaging are key ingredients for raising donors.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Think about Nike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They sell shoes. They\u2019re also a marketing powerhouse with a huge budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But no matter what celebrity (or athletic model) you\u2019re watching on a Nike commercial, the story really is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBuy our shoes and your game will improve.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nike\u2019s messaging discipline is incredible \u2013 they\u2019ve been using the same slogan since 1988!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be successful at online fundraising, you\u2019ll have to be as focused and disciplined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you discover the messaging and the stories that resonate with your donors, you need to stick with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when you get tired of the same messaging and stories you\u2019re telling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here are some thoughts on how to keep your fundraising communications fresh, even while you encourage your team to tell the same story over and over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember Your \u201cWhy.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If re-telling your nonprofit\u2019s story seems duller than it was yesterday, stop thinking so much about the \u201chows\u201d and \u201cwhats\u201d of your nonprofit and meditate for a while on its \u201cwhy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we forget about our nonprofit\u2019s big purpose, our fundraising communications tend to hone in on the logistics of what we\u2019re doing and how. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That quickly gets dry and uninspiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s like a runner who forgets to look at the finish line because they are looking at their feet to make sure they keep making one more step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As human beings, we crave purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonprofit operations and strategies don\u2019t keep anyone motivated for long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But telling stories that remind us all of the purpose of your nonprofit will inspire donors every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stop looking at the \u201ccompetition.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing that is sure to take away your storytelling mojo is spending time thinking about the other nonprofits in your space who are \u201cdoing things better.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we stop thinking about our nonprofit\u2019s greater purpose, we begin to look at other people and organizations as competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year. Those who forget the WHY they were founded for show up to the race every day to outdo someone else instead of to outdo themselves.\u201d<\/p>Simon Sinek<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Your nonprofit exists for a reason: to benefit the oppressed, find children homes, save depleting resources, rescue animals in danger, or many more noble causes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t exist to beat any other nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we forget our purpose, we take on pressure to outdo others or deal with issues outside our purview.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fundraising then feels like a zero-sum game with winners and losers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s really not the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth is, you and your clients win every time you repeat the story of your nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take time to hear your own stories.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take a look through your nonprofit\u2019s collection of stories or sit down with a coworker on the program side of your organization and ask them to tell you about the difference you\u2019re making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The very stories that you use to inspire others to donate can inspire you to send your message, call to action, or narrative all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stories move us in inexplicably powerful ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They connect us to our families, friends, and our donors<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you feel you’re losing steam, take a coffee with a colleague on the program side and see how inspired you\u2019ll be to get back out there and tell the stories again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more on how to listen in to your own nonprofit\u2019s stories, check out my post here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write stories about your nonprofit\u2019s community events.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another great way to increase your messaging enthusiasm is to craft a story from any event your nonprofit is putting on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s natural to turn everyday events into narratives\u2014we do it around our dinner tables and coffee tables all the time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re always telling those we care about how our day went or what happened at the last event we were a part of.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating stories around your nonprofit\u2019s events<\/a> can\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n