Ep. 57 | Not Getting Enough Donations? 3 Story Shifts That Inspire People to Give
Struggling to Write Your Newsletters so Supporters Engage?
You’ve seen God do amazing things- but if your emails are vague or unclear, your supporters won’t feel connected.
This free guide will show you how to:
Write subject lines that get your emails opened
Follow a simple story-driven format for every update
Engage donors with clear, Christ-centered storytelling
Your ministry is doing good work.
You’ve seen the impact.
You’ve watched people change.
You know the mission matters.
And yet…
The donations aren’t coming in.
And asking feels awkward.
It feels like you’re bothering people.
It feels like you’re taking.
It feels uncomfortable when you send an update and no one responds.
That silence is loud.
And if you’re honest, it makes you question things.
Does this even matter?
Am I saying it wrong?
Should this be easier by now?
You’re holding tension:
You trust God.
But you still need funds.
For the ministry.
For your family.
For the next step.
So how do you inspire people to give — without guilt, pressure, or that tight feeling in your chest?
It comes down to story.
Why Fundraising Feels Gross (Even When You Know It’s Necessary)
A lot of ministry leaders secretly hate fundraising.
Maybe you’ve thought:
“Fundraising is the worst.”
“I never want to do this.”
“I just want to do the ministry.”
And yet fundraising is part of the calling.
The problem isn’t fundraising itself.
It’s that most messaging unintentionally creates pressure — both for you and for the donor.
If the only angle is:
“We need money.”
Then of course it feels awkward.
No one enjoys asking from that position.
That’s why these three shifts matter.
Shift #1: Make the Donor the Main Character
Most ministries talk about themselves.
We’re doing this.
We’re growing.
We’re expanding.
We need this amount.
It’s natural. You’re close to the work.
But donors don’t give because your ministry is impressive.
They give because they see where they fit.
Instead of:
“Here’s what we’re doing.”
Try:
“Here’s the need you care about.”
If your ideal donor has a soft spot for children, and the need is education — start there.
Name the urgent need.
Connect it to something they already care deeply about.
Then show:
Here’s how this gets solved.
Here’s how you step into that solution.
Now the donor isn’t watching your story.
They’re stepping into their own.
That shift alone changes how fundraising feels.
Shift #2: Name the Real Problem — Don’t Stay Vague
This is the one most ministries avoid.
You focus on:
The wins.
The good news.
The updates.
But you don’t clearly name the problem.
And without a clear problem, there’s no tension.
Without tension, there’s no urgency.
Without urgency, there’s no action.
In every compelling story:
The conflict shows up quickly.
Your ministry message needs the same anchor.
What is actually at stake?
Who is suffering?
What happens if nothing changes?
Why does this matter right now?
If you assume people already understand the need, they don’t.
You have to name it directly.
Clearly.
Simply.
Without softening it so much that it loses weight.
The resolution only feels powerful when the problem feels real.
Shift #3: Show Giving as Participation, Not Pressure
This is where fundraising transforms.
Pressure says:
“We can’t keep going without you.”
Participation says:
“Here’s the path to solve this problem.”
You are not shaming.
You are not manipulating.
You are not hinting that their spiritual maturity depends on giving.
You are inviting.
You are saying:
“This is the problem.
This is how it gets solved.
This is how you can be part of something eternal.”
For many believers, being part of eternal impact is deeply meaningful.
But they can’t step in if you never show them the path.
So show the journey.
Show the steps.
Make the invitation clear.
And then let them decide.
That feels radically different.
What Happens When You Apply These Shifts
When you:
Make the donor the hero
Name the real problem
Show giving as participation
Fundraising changes.
You stop feeling like you’re taking.
You start feeling like you’re inviting.
You stop scrambling when funds get low.
You build a message that works everywhere:
Website.
Newsletter.
Email.
In-person conversations.
And the clarity builds trust over time.
That’s how donations grow sustainably.
If You Don’t Know Your “Real Problem” Yet
Here’s the hard truth:
You might not be able to see it clearly on your own.
Especially if you’ve been in ministry for 10, 20, 25 years.
You get used to your language.
You get close to the mission.
And sometimes it takes an outside perspective to surface:
“That’s not the problem. This is.”
That’s exactly what we do inside coaching.
We clarify:
Your core conflict
Your donor’s role
The simple path you communicate consistently
Plot point by plot point.
So fundraising becomes simpler.
Clearer.
Less emotionally heavy.
If you want help building that kind of message, you can learn more here:
👉 https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching
You don’t have to hate fundraising.
You just need a better story.
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