Write (and Tell) Your Story

Summit Marketing is based in Kansas City, Mo. This company provided symposium participants with ideas for innovation, thoughts for solutions and best ways to target prospects. While I could not enjoy Savannah to a great degree due to time constraints, I did leave the symposium inspired and full of new ideas to approach future prospects. I now have a greater appreciation for the fact that you must tell your story through many outlets including radio, television, print media, direct mail, social media and face-to-face interaction. It was noted that stories must be dynamic and not static in nature.

The moral of the story is simple. When you approach a prospect with impersonal facts only, you will fail to connect. That approach is like watching a black-and-white television set in the 1950s. If you paint a vivid and colorful emotional message using stories that people can relate to with similar life experiences, feelings will fly. People will watch the story unfold in "HD" color. They will better understand why you need funds and the tremendous impact their donations can make to help others.

Over time, prospects will get the message you want to convey in powerful ways even you cannot imagine. I thank Summit Marketing for recharging my intellectual battery. I now have a better understanding of the fact it is not what you say but how you say it. That approach makes all the difference between ultimate funding success and failure. You definitely make a greater impact if you can do research on prospects and understand their needs and wants. It is not about you — it is all about them.

Nonprofit competition is keen. You must create a story that is unique and separates your organization from others in the community. You should always try to understand why donors give to your organization and what makes your organization special. If you don't know, start calling them on the phone and ask them. You will be surprised at what you learn.