Story‑Driven Fundraising | Missionary, Fundraising Ideas, Donations, Marketing Plan, NonProfit Groups
Do you wish fundraising was easier? Do you wish you didn’t have to worry so much about the money? Feeling the awkwardness, the icky-shame feeling of asking for money? Putting so much effort in but still getting “nos” or worse… ghosting?
I’m excited you’re here!! This is the place for you to learn how to fundraise easier, get rid of the shame and awkwardness of asking for money, and finally start growing supporters for your ministry that stay for the long haul!
Hi, I’m Lisa. I love Jesus, have been in ministry since I was born (missionary kid here) and I love being a part of what God is doing in people’s lives!
I’ve worked with and in ministries that struggle to truly connect with supporters. I’ve seen the stigma around raising support, the scramble across platforms and videos to “keep up,” and the relentless trial-and-error that never quite clicks—often ending in burnout.
But then I saw first hand the power of story and was BLOWN AWAY at how quickly it engaged donors and encouraged them to donate- the first time I used the power of story in our messaging, we raised so much support, the team wasn’t even prepared for it! This had never happened before!
And I want the same for your ministry!!
If you’re ready to finally raise the support you need—without the constant stress or worry…
If you want to grow your base of supporters and keep them with you for the long haul…
If you’re looking for a simple strategy you can use again and again—one that replaces burnout with confidence…
And if you’re ready to drop the awkward, icky, or shameful feelings around asking for money…
Then this podcast is for you.
Grab your coffee, your calling, and maybe a snack—let’s do this.
-Lisa
Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com
Episodes
117 episodes
116 | LIVE COACHING: Struggling to Find Ministry Donors? Start With WHO, Not Where
**If fundraising feels awkward, uncomfortable, or you’re never quite sure what to say to potential donors, join me for my free live workshop, Fundraise with Confidence.**<...
115 | Audit Your Fundraising Message with 3 Simple Checks
***If fundraising still feels awkward, heavy, or uncomfortable, I’m inviting you to my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop! I’ll show you how to change the way you approach fundraising and how to start a donor conversation using...
114 | Fundraising Ask Feels Awkward? How to Make the Donor the Hero of Your Ministry Message
**Not sure how to start a donor conversation without it feeling awkward? Join me live and learn what to say to quickly connect donors with your mission and confidently lead toward the ask. Grab your workshop seat:
113 | LIVE COACHING: Clarifying a Vague Fundraising Message
**Ready to fundraise without feeling awkward, embarrassed, or salesy? Join me for my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop. Save your seat at irisstorytelling.com/fundraising
112 | When Missionary Fundraising Feels Selfish: How to Reframe the Ask
**Ready to fundraise without feeling awkward, embarrassed, or salesy? Join me for my FREE live Fundraise with Confidence workshop. Save your seat at irisstorytelling.com/fundraising
111 | How Do You Share an Impact Story in Your Ministry Fundraising Message?
You have a powerful impact story—but you don't know exactly how to use it in your overall message. Should you open with the story? Save it until the end? Put it somewhere in the middle? And how does the story connect to your ministry’s bigger v...
110 | LIVE COACHING: What to Say in a Donor Meeting to Make Your Fundraising Message Clear
You finally get a meeting with a potential donor…and then realize you have no idea what you’re actually supposed to say.In this live coaching episode, I’m helping Cindy prepare for a meeting with a potential business donor. Sh...
109 | 3 Ministry Messaging Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Fundraising
You’ve worked hard on your ministry message. You’ve thought through the words on your website, practiced explaining what you do, and tried to communicate professionally. So why does it still feel like donors aren’t connecting?...
108 | Haven’t Fundraised in Months? 3 Steps to Restart Your Ministry Fundraising Without the Panic
Has it been months since you’ve really fundraised? Ministry got busy, donor communication slipped, and now your support account is getting lower than you’d like. Suddenly, fundraising feels urgent—and you’re wondering where to even begin.
107 | Storytelling for Ministry Fundraising: 2 Ways to Use Story
You’ve heard that storytelling is powerful for fundraising—but storytelling is so much more than finding a good ministry story and retelling what happened.In this episode, I’m breaking down the 2 main ways to use storytelli...
106 | Want Business Sponsors? How to Find the RIGHT Partners for your Ministry
Businesses can give bigger donations, so it’s tempting to look for the company with the deepest pockets and think, If we could just get them on board, we’d finally hit our fundraising goal.But chasing the biggest chec...
105 | Storytelling for Fundraising: The Simple Structure That Makes Your Ministry Message Clear
Your ministry has powerful stories—but knowing how to actually use storytelling in fundraising is a completely different challenge.In this episode, I’m breaking down the storytelling structure I use to help ministry lea...
104 | Comparing Your Ministry to Others? 3 Ways It’s Hurting Your Fundraising
🎉 LAST DAY TO WIN A FREE COACHING SESSION!I’m giving away a FREE 1-hour Fundraising Message Coaching Session to three winners. We’ll look at your fundraising message together, identify areas that may be holding you back, and help ...
103 | Fundraising Is Stealing Time from Your Ministry—3 Shifts That Change Everything
**I’m celebrating the 100th episode of the podcast by giving away three FREE Fundraising Message Coaching Sessions! If you’ve been wanting personalized feedback on your fundraising message, this is your chance.🎉 Enter th...
102 | Getting Too Many Fundraising “No’s”? 3 Steps to Handle Rejection Without Losing Confidence
🎉 Episode 100 Giveaway Ends August 10! I’m giving away 3 free Fundraising Message Coaching Sessions to ministry leaders, missionaries, and nonprofit founders. If you want help clarifying your fundraising message, newsletter, donor...
101 | Fundraising Is Exhausting; Here Are 3 Ministry Rhythms To Build Ministry Support
🎉 100th Episode Giveaway! I’m celebrating 100 episodes by giving away 3 free Fundraising Message Coaching sessions (a $77 value each)! If you’re struggling to explain your ministry clearly, feeling awkward asking for support, or w...
100 | Is Your Fundraising Ask Weak? This Mistake Keeps People From Supporting Your Ministry
**🎉 100 EPISODE GIVEAWAY** Enter to win one of 3 free Fundraising Message Coaching sessions at irisstorytelling.com/100 (entries close Aug 10th).What if the most poli...
99 | Stop Losing Ministry Donors: The Fundraising Follow-Up Strategy That Wins More Yeses
You thought they were excited about your ministry. They asked great questions. The conversation went well. Then… nothing.Many ministry leaders assume silence means someone isn’t interested. That assumption quietly costs minist...
98 | Inconsistent Ministry Communication? 3 Fundraising Shifts That Create Loyal Donors
You get motivated to communicate consistently, send a few updates, and show up online—then ministry gets busy and months pass. When fundraising season comes around, you suddenly start communicating again.That cycle can quietly...
97 | Fundraising Storytelling: How to Find Ministry Stories Every Week
You keep hearing that storytelling is the key to better fundraising… but what if you honestly feel like nothing interesting ever happens in your ministry? It’s easy to assume great stories are only for large nonprofits with dramatic testimonies...
96 | The Fundraising Mistake Making Your Ministry Forgettable
Ever visited a ministry website and felt like you’ve read the same mission statement a dozen times? “Sharing the Gospel.” “Making disciples.” “Loving people.” Every one of those is important—but none of them makes a ministry memorable.
95 | Struggling to Fundraise? 3 Reasons Someone Doesn’t Become a Donor
They loved hearing about your ministry. They asked thoughtful questions. They even said they’d pray about supporting you. So why do so many of those conversations end without a donation?In this episode, you’ll discover the 3 b...
94 | Missionary Fundraising: Why People Ignore Your Emails (and What Gets Their Attention)
You spend hours writing your ministry newsletter… then hit send and wonder if anyone even opened it. No replies. No engagement. Just silence. If that’s happened to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean your supporters don’t care. It may mean your ne...
93 | Why Donors Forget Your Ministry (and 3 Fundraising Shifts That Keep You Top of Mind)
Ever walked away from a fundraising conversation convinced someone was going to support your ministry… only to never hear from them again? It can feel personal, but what if silence doesn’t mean they’ve rejected your ministry?I...
92 | No One Donating? 2 Tips to Spark Ministry Donations Now
If your fundraising has been slow lately, your first instinct might be to work harder or send another email. But what if the problem isn’t how often you’re asking… it’s how you’re inviting people into the story?In this episode...