Ep. 34 | Hard Time Fundraising? Clarify Your Ministry Story
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
If fundraising has felt heavy, confusing, or harder than it should be, you’re not alone. Many ministry leaders pour countless hours into communicating what they do—yet donors still don’t seem to “get it.” And when donors are confused, they hesitate, pull back, or disappear altogether.
The good news?
Confusing messaging is fixable. And once it’s clear, everything changes.
Most ministries struggle because they’re telling the wrong story—or at least telling the story from the wrong angle. When your ministry becomes the “main character,” or your updates focus only on what you do, donors can’t see themselves in the story. They don’t know why they matter, what role they play, or how their support makes a difference.
But when you shift the story and bring clarity, donors finally understand their purpose and place. They feel needed, valued, and invited into the work God is doing.
Here are the three key roles in a clear, effective ministry message:
1. Your Donor Is the Main Character
This may feel counterintuitive, but it’s true: when communicating with donors, their story comes first. They want to know how they can make an impact, how God can use them, and how their generosity creates change. Meet them where they are—honor their heart, their desires, their passion—and show them the impact they can make.
2. Your Ministry Is the Guide
Your ministry isn’t the hero—it’s the guide. Your role is to connect donors to the problem they can help solve, and to show them the path toward meaningful impact. When you speak as the guide, your message becomes clear, focused, and deeply compelling.
3. The People You Serve Are the Supporting Characters
The individuals or communities your ministry serves are central to your mission, but in donor messaging, they are the supporting characters. Donors want to see the transformation they can help create in the lives of others. Clear storytelling bridges that connection.
When you communicate using these roles, your message becomes instantly clearer. Donors understand where they fit, how they can make a difference, and why their support matters. And when donors understand—they engage, connect, and respond.
If you’re struggling with fundraising right now, try reviewing one piece of your messaging this week: a website page, newsletter, email, or social post. Ask yourself: Who is the main character here?
If it’s your ministry, shift it.
Make the donor the hero, position your ministry as the guide, and place the people you serve as the ones they can help.
Small clarity shifts can completely transform your donor engagement.
If you’d like help auditing your messaging, I offer 1:1 coaching to walk you through this process. You can learn more here: irisstorytelling.com/coaching.
And if you want to connect with other women who are navigating ministry fundraising, join our free community: Ministry Fundraising for Women Leaders at irisstorytelling.com/community.
Clarity brings confidence—for you and your donors.
And when your story is clear, your fundraising becomes far more effective.
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