Promote your NGO with Storytelling

Continuing my discussion of branding and fundraising, another useful strategy for promoting your NGO, according to “Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits,” is storytelling. Communicating stories of your nonprofit is the most powerful means of inspiring your donors and supporters, according to fundraising experts. When done well, storytelling will evoke emotions ranging from empathy to anger that will stimulate your donors and supporters to favor your mission and take action on behalf of your nonprofit. In fact, statistics show that 56% of individuals who follow nonprofits on mobile and social networks take further action, the number one action being making a donation, after they have read a compelling story published by a nonprofit. Telling a good story requires thorough knowledge of your NGOs mission, a creative mind, excellent writing skills, simplicity and clarity, and the ability to edit and brand images.

Speaking generally, fundraising requires a plan. After you’ve begun to promote your nonprofit, consider how you will approach fundraising. Fundraising plans serve the same purpose for civil society that business plans fulfill for public and private for-profit companies. If your charitable organization isn’t able to function effectively without engaging in successful efforts to raise money – and which NGO can function without funds, then it’s essential your team to create and use a formal plan document that can be used to plan and guide your fundraising activities.

Contact me for more ideas and guidance.