Who Do You Represent?

Additional questions:

• Why was the organization started (in response to what)?
• What unique approach or knowledge do you have on your issue?
• Who do you truly represent, and how do you prove their support?

Communicating your nonprofit's unique difference is a matter of survival. So while you must paint a picture regarding the scale of impact, it's not just about over-rationalized arguments.

You need to tell a bigger story that inspires the imagination. At the end of the day, are you giving your donors a story they can proudly believe in?

Michael Margolis is president of Get Storied, which advises nonprofits on how to get others to believe in their stories. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Brandweek and Storytelling Magazine, among other sources. Michael is the author of many publications including "Believe Me: A Storytelling Manifesto for Change-Makers and Innovators." Follow him on Twitter at @getstoried.