1

Engagement: Finding New Donors and Volunteers

2

Quick Reminders!

Supporters Donors + Volunteers

Engagement Strengthen Current Relationships

Initiate New Relationships

33

2017 Goal8,000 Supporters

Donors + Volunteers

4

Start thinking…

Who receives your services?

What is their experience with your organization?

5

Engagement through Storytelling

“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”

-Jimmy Neil Smith, Director of the International Storytelling Center

“The story – from Rapunzel to War and Peace – is one of the basic tools invented by the human mind, for the purpose of gaining understanding. There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.”

-author Ursula K. Le Guin, 1979

“Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.”

-An old Native American proverb

66

Creative Writing as a Campaign Tool

7

Our Storytelling Goals

1) Tell the story of a client, volunteer, or donor interacting with your organization.

2) Help the audience see the character as themselves or a loved one.

3) Teach the audience about your organization through the experience of another.

88

Today we tell our stories

9

Introduce Your Character

• Who is your Character? • (first name, characteristics others can identify with)

• What is their need? • (broad terms that the client would use, they don’t know your

program names or terminology yet)

• How did they find you? • (this highlights ways you’re engaging with the community)

• Why are you the right fit? • (one sentence stating who you are that aligns with what they need. )

10

First Interaction

• Who did they meet when first walking in? • (describe the characteristics of your staff or volunteers)

• What services were initially given? • (give exact program names and descriptions if appropriate)

• How many others are served by your org in this way?

• (give historical numbers or number by month or year)

11

Further Interaction

• Note additional services or integrations with your character?

• (did they become a volunteer, donor, etc.)

• How was the character additionally supported or impacted?

• (note service levels and/or progression)

• What other services could help your character that they didn’t know about before?

• (one sentence each)

12

Happily Ever After…or not

• Recap the character and their need.• (you can now use your terminology to describe the need)

• Give before and after statements to highlight positive change.

• (2-3 statements)

• Additional unintended benefits? • (one sentence each)

13

History and Impact

• How many years have you served the community?

• What are the characteristics of the people you serve?

• (note the likeness to the story character)

• How can supporters help create more stories like this?

• (highlight volunteer opportunities and/or donation suggestions)

• Support us as we…

14

Social Media Partner

15

– Telling your story on Facebook –keeping your audience informed with 

your impact 

• Found in the ‘About’ section

Facebook Milestones for Impact

• Some Milestone ideas to consider… 

Facebook Milestones for Impact

• First Employee/Volunteer/Donor • Major organization events• Major (and minor) press coverage• Celebrity endorsement / Hiring of a Spokesperson• Move to a new office / building• Volunteer events (as organizer or participant)• Introduction of a new program or service• New CEO / leadership team• New national / international office openings

• Maximize impact by using photos and links!

Facebook Milestones for Impact

Facebook Milestones for Impact

Facebook Milestones for Impact

Sharing Your Story• Break it up into bite size pieces that can be shared creatively over social media

Sharing Your Story• Break it up into bite size pieces that can be shared creatively over social media

Sharing Your Story• Break it up into bite size pieces that can be shared creatively over social media

Sharing Your Story• Break it up into bite size pieces that can be shared creatively over social media

Sharing Your Story

• Be VISUAL  

Sharing Your Story

Sharing Your Story

Sharing Your Story

• Appeal to human empathy & emotion

Sharing Your Story

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

‐Maya Angelou

Sharing Your Story

Sharing Your Story“Knowledge that disturbs you can also empower you to reach out and act in 

support, thus giving your own life a little bit more purpose and meaning.”

“In the grand scheme of communities and society, there’s probably a pretty good case to make that being aware of the good and the bad just makes you a little bit better a friend and a little bit more tuned into what’s going on around you,” Rainie said. “That might be a better thing, 

even for the cost of it, than being disengaged.”

Sharing Your Story

• Incorporate Calls to Action where appropriate 

Sharing Your Story

• Boost posts or run an ad for greater reach

Sharing Your Story

• Boost posts or run an ad for greater reach

Light orange is organic reach, dark orange is promoted (paid) reach

3535

Questions?

36

Important Dates

March 31Profile Page Deadline

April 18Press Conference

April 25Opt-in Deadline for Board Challenge

May 2Give Big Kern

37

Next Steps

Customize your Give Big Kern page by March 31!

Attend the webinars and workshops

…and tell your story!