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Storytelling and writing are essential skills for missionaries, ministry and nonprofit leaders. In fact, if you struggle to tell stories, you'll struggle to raise the funds you need. Kay Helm is a writer & editor with experience in missions and the business world. She founded Mission Writers in 2022 to help missionaries write fundraising appeals and powerful stories to share with supporters. In this podcast, she offers tips you can use today to improve your missions & nonprofit writing.
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Today, and in the next few episodes, we’re going all the way back to the most basic building blocks of storytelling: who, what, where, why, when and how. Simply including these in your content isn’t enough. Over the next few episodes, we’ll discover how using these building blocks effectively can move you from just reporting dry facts to building a world your donor can step into. Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonp...
Whether you're a missionary, a nonprofit leader, a change maker of any kind, you know that a powerful story can open hearts for people to join you in your mission. In season 4 of the Life and Mission Podcast, we're looking at the building blocks of every persuasive story: who, what, where, why, when, and how. Sounds basic, But I'll offer a few twists that you might not have heard before. Grab your notebook and get ready to tell stories that build relationships and raise more for your m...
When things don't turn out as planned, a well-told setback story can give donors another reason to support you. Here are some of the stories you can tell around a setback: Explain the process of change your beneficiaries go through.Focus on one aspect of the change process and help supporters understand why it's such a hurdle.Share a story about the setting that causes difficulties in the change process.Feature something in your work that deals specifically with one of those hurdles.Wh...
I have a love-hate relationship with conferences and networking events. While I love to meet new people and to learn new things, large or busy events can get overwhelming. I'm an introvert. I like my alone time. After a lot of activity, conversations, and noise, I need to go somewhere quiet and recharge. Last week's Daily Writer Retreat got me thinking about the advantage of smaller events (at least for me). This was a two-day event, with dinner together at a local restaurant the...
The tables are turned as fundraising expert Mary Valloni interviews Kay about using stories to connect with donors. We talked about: Using stories to connect Where we go wrong with storytelling Stories for people in admin roles Telling your own origin story The key story we forget Missionary fundraising training with Mary Valloni fullyfundedacademy.com Level up your storytelling skills with Kay missionwriters.org kayhelm.com Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is...
Your donors are busy. They’re tired. They make decisions all day in a world where everyone is clamoring for attention. Here's a simple way to help them "catch" your stories. Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you in January. Sign up for my emails ...
Our stories have the power to move supporters along on a journey: introducing them to a problem, dispelling myths, offering hope, introducing them to our organization, showing them how we solve the problem, building trust, and inviting them to take action. At any point in time, you'll have people at different stages along these five levels of awareness: Unaware - They don't even know there is a problem.Problem Aware - They know about the problem, but not about solutions.Solution Aware ...
My guest today is Joy Capps, author of Joyful Copy—How to Show Up in the Marketplace Ethically and Authentically. There are a lot of copywriting formulas and blueprints, and many ways to reach your audience. But not all ways line up with what we know to be ethical and true. Joy created her Joyful Copy framework to help us write marketing copy that isn’t slimy. Based on Galatians 5:22-23 and Philippians 4:8, her framework filters best practices of copywriting through the teachings of th...
Every story gives us a chance to choose. Do we set up a “them and us” narrative, or will we do the work to offer another perspective? Airbnb runs an ad featuring a family of shaggy “monsters” enjoying their vacation. the goal of the ad is to invite people to become hosts on the platform. It starts where many of us are when it comes to inviting strangers to stay in our homes–it’s a little scary. But then we see a delightful series of scenes: enjoying beautiful views with a cuppa tea, a family...
I got a message today from a supporter who needs to stop her monthly donations. I'm thinking of my friends in ministry who raise support–missionary support or raising funds for the ministry as a whole–and you’re on the field, you’re doing the work, and you get a message like this. The temptation is to shrink back. The temptation is to say, "Well, people are hurting (they are) and so I feel bad asking for money to support the ministry." But I want to encourage you that this is not the time to ...
How to make your fundraising materials more inviting and easier to read, so more people can join you in your life-changing mission. Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you in January. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!
My interview with Katie Hornor, author of Flamingo Marketing: How to Leverage Unique, Stay Relevant and Change the World [00:02:28] Leverage your unique [00:04:11] Why mindset is so important [00:06:03] Doing hard things [00:09:26] Time management [00:13:08] Legacy [00:14:03] Details on the book Katie has bonuses for you at freeflamingobook.com Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and non...
My three top takeaways from the Virtual Event on Virtual Events, and how you can serve your people by sharing the things you learn. I try to attend something every year that’s outside of but adjacent to my field. It helps me see things with fresh eyes. New possibilities, solutions to old problems, and a break from the routine. I recently attended The Virtual Event for Virtual Events and came away inspired and energized. Here are my top three takeaways that any communicator (even if yo...
You need to tell stories to raise more funds for your mission, ministry or nonprofit. But why is that? What exactly is it that stories do? Every known culture tells stories. This is the way we make sense of the world and our place in it. All through the donor journey, especially with people who are not yet aware of you and your mission. Stories help draw them in, and help them get to know, like, and trust you. Why Tell Stories? Stories help us connect – When you listen to a story, you...
It's a new season for the Life and Mission podcast! Mission Writers Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you in January. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!
In this episode, I'm answering questions about nonprofit newsletters. How many newsletters should you send?How fancy do they need to be?What else can you do with those stories?Why send a print newsletter by mail when you can send email instead? One key thing you don't want to leave out.------------ Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content i...
Storytelling is an essential skill for fundraisers. What do stories do? Stories help us connect. Compelling stories increase empathy.Stories reflect our values. Stories reveal truths. Stories help us see others in a new way.Stories give us context.Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments ...
The time between Thanksgiving and December 31 is by far the biggest giving season of the year. People expect you to ask. If you don't, the assumption will likely be that you don't need their money.Here's what you need to do now. Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some gre...
You know you need to tell more stories to raise funds - but where do you find these stories? In this episode, I share five ways to find the stories you need. Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you in January. Sign up for my emails so you'll know...
In the Food Network show Chopped, just before chefs present their first dish to the judges, they must answer the question, “What would it mean for you to win?” It's a question every nonprofit must answer. Send me your questions Support the show Mission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for y...
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