Story‑Driven Fundraising | Ministry, Fundraising Ideas, Donations, Marketing Plan, NonProfit Groups

Episódios

• 84 | Stop Struggling to Write Ministry Newsletters: Include These 3 Things Every Time 01.06.2026 17min

  You know you need to send ministry newsletters… but every time you sit down to write one, your brain goes blank. What do you include? What do you leave out? Do you even have enough to say? In this episode, I’m sharing the three most important things every ministry newsletter should include so writing becomes faster, simpler, and more effective. And if you want extra help, I also created a free ministry newsletter checklist to walk you through the process every time. Download it at iriss...
• 83 | Donors Aren’t Saying Yes? Fix This Ministry Fundraising Mistake 28.05.2026 14min

  You keep talking about your ministry… but donors still aren’t connecting. If people seem interested but never actually support, your fundraising problem may not be your mission-it may be your message. In this episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest mistakes ministry leaders make when communicating with donors. If fundraising has felt heavy, confusing, or harder than it should be—this episode may help you see your message differently. Similar Episodes: 59 | 3 Signs Your Fundra...
• 82 | Why Ministry Fundraising Feels Slow and 3 Ways to Build Donor Trust Faster 25.05.2026 17min

  People might love your ministry… and still hesitate to support it. That’s the frustrating part of fundraising that almost nobody talks about. You have conversations. People listen. They seem interested. They even encourage you. Yet somehow the support still feels slow. In this episode, we’re talking about why donor trust takes so long to build sometimes — and what you can do to speed that process up in a healthy, honest way. We’ll walk through the 3 things that build trust faster wi...
• 81 | No Time to Fundraise? 3 Ways to Get Time Back for Ministry Support 21.05.2026 20min

  Do you feel like fundraising keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your list? You know donor relationships matter. You know you should be communicating more consistently. But ministry responsibilities, meetings, events, homeschooling, emails, and constant interruptions keep taking over. And before you know it, another month passes without intentionally fundraising or nurturing donor relationships. In this episode, I share 3 practical ways to get time back for fundraising and ministry su...
• 80 | How to Get Donors to Say Yes Faster in Ministry Fundraising 18.05.2026 17min

  What happens when the donors you were relying on end up not giving… or stop after a little while? It can throw everything off. Logistically, financially, emotionally. You start wondering what happened, why it’s taking so long for people to commit, and whether fundraising is always supposed to feel this difficult. So why does it take some donors months — or even years — to finally say yes? In this episode, Lisa walks through the 3 biggest things that help donors support your ministry mor...
• 79 | They Said They’d Give… Then Didn’t. What’s Blocking Consistent Fundraising 14.05.2026 17min

  They said they’d give. They were excited. They meant it. And then… they don't follow through. Or maybe they gave once… and then stopped.vIt’s one of the hardest parts of fundraising—and it can leave you feeling confused, discouraged, and stuck. In this episode, we’re breaking down what’s actually causing donors not to follow through—and the 3 shifts you need to create more consistent, reliable support. Similar Episodes: 51 | Hate fundraising? 3 Ways to Ease the Ick of Asking for Money ...
• 78 | Think Churches Don’t Care About Missions? What’s Actually Blocking Your Fundraising 11.05.2026 17min

  You’ve thought it before. Churches just aren’t generous anymore. They don’t really care about missions. And after enough polite conversations, low support, and missed follow-through… it starts to feel true. But what if that’s not actually the problem? In this episode, we’re breaking down what’s really blocking your fundraising with churches—and the 3 shifts that will help you communicate more clearly, connect faster, and raise support more effectively. Similar Episodes: 59 | 3 Signs You...
• 77 | Your Fundraising Isn’t Connecting: 3 Ways to Turn Your Message Into a Compelling Story 07.05.2026 21min

  Your donors are reading your updates… but they’re not responding. You’re sharing what you’ve done, the impact you’re making, the numbers-but something still feels off. Because information isn’t what creates connection. Story does. In this episode, I’ll walk you through 3 simple ways to turn your everyday updates into compelling stories that actually connect with your donors—so they understand the need, feel it, and want to be part of the solution. Similar Episodes: 71 | You’re Using S...
• 76 | Want Your Ministry Fully Funded? 3 Things You Need In Your Fundraising Message 04.05.2026 21min

  Why won't donors step into support when you know your ministry matters? If people are smiling, nodding, and saying “that’s great”… but not actually giving or engaging, the issue might not be your ministry—it’s your message. In this episode, we walk through the 3 non-negotiable elements your fundraising message must include if you want donors to truly connect, understand the urgency, and say yes faster. Similar Episodes: 69 | 3 Reasons Why Donors Aren’t Engaging With Your Ministry Fund...
• 75 | Do Your Donors Feel Like ATMs or Partners? (Ministry Fundraising Relationships That Actually Work) 30.04.2026 22min

  Be honest for a second… When your donors hear from you, does it feel like a relationship—or a transaction? Because most ministry leaders don’t mean to do it… but their donors end up feeling like ATMs. Only hearing from you when there’s a need. Only part of the story when money is involved. In this episode, we’re unpacking the difference between donors who feel like ATMs and donors who feel like true partners—and how to shift your communication so your relationships actually grow stronger ...
• 74 | What NOT to Say When Fundraising for Your Ministry (And What to Say Instead) 27.04.2026 15min

  You’re trying to explain your ministry… and something feels off. You’re talking, they’re nodding—but you can tell they’re not really getting it. So you start wondering: Am I using the wrong words? Am I saying something that’s pushing people away? In this episode, we’re breaking down what NOT to say in your fundraising—and how to shift your words so your message actually connects, makes sense, and leads to action. Similar Episodes: 70 | Ready to See Consistent Giving? The Marketi...
• 73 | How to Fundraise for a Building Campaign Without Losing Donor Interest 23.04.2026 13min

  Fundraising for a building, renovation, or project can feel harder than anything else. Because it’s not a person. It’s not a story. It’s a building. And when you’re trying to talk about it, it can feel… flat. So most ministry leaders either over-explain the details or struggle to make it sound compelling—and donors don’t really connect. In this episode, we’re breaking down how to fundraise for a building campaign in a way that actually connects with donors—so they don’t just understan...
• 72 | Don’t Make This Mistake After a Donor Says Yes (Ministry Fundraising) 20.04.2026 20min

  Most ministry leaders think the hard part of fundraising is getting the yes. But what happens after that? Because this is where a lot of people unknowingly make a mistake that slowly disconnects their donors—without realizing it. They go quiet. They only reach out when they need something. Or they just don’t know what to say next. And over time, the relationship fades. In this episode, we’re talking about the mistake most people make after a donor says yes—and how to shift your approach so ...
• 71 | You’re Using Story Wrong in Your Ministry Fundraising (Start Here Instead) 16.04.2026 17min

  You know stories matter in fundraising. But when it’s time to actually use them, everything can start to feel forced. You freeze, overthink, or wonder if you even have a story worth sharing. In this episode, I’m breaking down two simple ways to use story in your ministry fundraising so your message feels clearer, stronger, and far more effective—without sounding salesy or fake. Similar episodes: #66 – Ministry Fundraising Without Stories? Build a Simple Story Bank That Keeps Donors Engage...
• 70 | Ready to See Consistent Giving? The Marketing Plan Every Ministry Leader Needs 13.04.2026 20min

  **Last chance to learn how to start the conversation when you're asking for money at the FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising** Ever feel like your fundraising is just… all over the place? You’re trying different things—emails, social media, conversations—but nothing really seems to stick. And honestly? It starts to feel discouraging fast. In this episode, I’m breaking down a simple 3-part marketing plan that will help you finally fee...
• 69 | 3 Reasons Why Donors Aren’t Engaging With Your Ministry Fundraising 09.04.2026 19min

  **Join the FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn exactly what to say when you ask for money. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising** You keep showing up. You send the newsletter. You post the update. You share what God is doing. And still… it feels like crickets. No replies. No comments. No real response. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reasons donors stop engaging—and it’s probably not because they don’t care. We’ll talk about the noise they’re living i...
• 68 | How to Start a Fundraising Conversation Without Feeling Pushy 06.04.2026 20min

  **Join the FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn exactly what to say when you ask for money. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising** Why does fundraising in ministry feel so awkward… even when you know it matters? That pit in your stomach. The second-guessing. The fear that you’re bothering people or asking for something you don’t deserve. In this episode, we’re unpacking why that feeling shows up—and how to finally shift out of it so you can start fundraising conve...
• 67 | Why Your Nonprofit Fundraising Feels Messy (And How to Build a Foundation That Works) 02.04.2026 20min

  **Join my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the ick. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising** If your fundraising feels scattered… like you’re doing a little bit of everything but none of it really connects—you’re not alone. Most ministry leaders don’t actually have a clear foundation guiding their messaging. So every email, post, or conversation feels like starting from scratch… and it gets exhausting fast. In this episode, we’re get...
• 66 | Ministry Fundraising Without Stories? Build a Simple Story Bank That Keeps Donors Engaged 30.03.2026 18min

  **Join my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the ick. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising** You know stories are powerful. Stories of impact. Stories of the people your ministry serves. Stories of how God is moving. But when it’s time to write a donor update or newsletter… your mind suddenly goes blank. In this episode, I share a simple three-step system to build a story bank so you always have meaningful stories ready to share with...
• 65 | 3 Ways to Build Long-Term Donor Relationships That Actually Last 26.03.2026 22min

  **Struggling with fundraising? Join the free workshop, Fundraise with Confidence, and learn how to start support conversations without feeling pushy or uncomfortable. Save your seat: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising ** You care about your donors. You genuinely want to love them well and build real relationships with them. But sometimes you’re not sure what that actually looks like. How often should you communicate? What should you share? How do you keep donors engaged without feeling like...