Making your mission come alive through stories

By Pamela Barden

I am about to write a direct-mail appeal for a nonprofit. It sent me two stories, each a paragraph long. And I am excited!

Why? In just these two short paragraphs, this organization packed in enough detail that I can tell my audience the story of two people being helped by the nonprofit. I can paint a vivid word picture that will engage your heart in the mission of the organization and (I think) make you want to be part of the solution it provides to people like Martha and Edith.