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BlogHow Brand Storytelling Connects with Your Donors

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Brand storytelling via a podcast.
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How Brand Storytelling Connects with Your Donors

As you contemplate your nonprofit’s approach to communicating with donors, consider sharing your organization’s mission, needs and impact through brand storytelling to stand out from other organizations and their charitable requests.

Make An Impact with Storytelling

Brand storytelling via a podcast. Many nonprofit organizations increase their fundraising activities in the fall when there are opportunities to encourage charitable giving, such as Giving Tuesday and the end of the calendar year. Getting your supporters’ and prospective donors’ attention can be a challenge given the fact that the average American household receives 454 pieces of marketing mail a year.

Brand storytelling can have a powerful impact on your supporters. Share your stories during a conversation, video testimony, a feature story in a newsletter and even via a digital or direct mail appeal letter. Stories create a connection between the clients you serve and those who are interested in supporting your brand mission and work in the community.

Personalized Stories Compel People to Act

Donors are more likely to remember a story told or a client testimonial about their impact rather than the statistics of how many clients served. That is because stories shared in the right style, medium and tone can induce feelings of empathy. A story can help motivate and encourage others’ understanding of why your organization and services matter. A story can compel others to take action whether it be through advocacy, volunteering or donating to support your organization or cause.

Philanthropists receive many requests for support. The more detailed and compelling a story, the easier it will be to build an emotional connection and engage with donors.

At AMPERAGE Marketing & Fundraising, we believe in the power of storytelling to motivate, inspire and engage your audiences in your mission. To learn more about our storytelling capabilities and other mediums for effective delivery, contact one of our Fundraising advisers or email Jennifer Rubel, director of fundraising, at jrubel@amperagefundraising.com.

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Melissa provides fundraising counsel for AMPERAGE’s nonprofit clients, leading feasibility studies and providing solutions that drive successful fundraising campaign results. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), she uses her experience and extensive skill set to continually advance her fundraising practices and develop campaign-specific strategies, materials and training to help clients reach their campaign goals and advance their mission. Melissa has vast experience working in the nonprofit sector, having served in development and leadership roles with Sisters of Mercy and the Alzheimer’s Association. In addition, she has served as a volunteer and board member with local nonprofits, such as the Catherine McAuley Center. Faith-based organizations and causes are of particular interest to Melissa. Melissa moves the needle by always looking for new opportunities and ways to improve professionally. She is currently president of the Eastern Iowa Planned Giving Council and a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Eastern Iowa Chapter. Melissa holds a Master of Strategic Leadership degree from Mount Mercy University. This busy professional, wife and mother enjoys sports and live music in her free time. A fan of Cubs baseball and Iowa Hawkeye football, Melissa and family enjoy football tailgating, where she’s known for her breakfast burritos. She enjoys the local band scene but says a Foo Fighters concert is her all-time favorite.