1

Storytelling for Gift Planning Success

200906092 TPB-AB21039 (09/09)

Storytelling“Mind Map”

“Be interesting, tell the truth, live the truth.” – John Powers, 1895

Available Choices

Available Time

Mission / Values

Write / Test

Collect Ideas

Share / Revise

Mission!

Why?

• Share Values• Raising $• Motivating others• Training• Recruiting• Planning• Connect with Donors!

Levels of Connection1.Awareness2.Uniqueness3.Acceptance4.Affiliation5.Champion

Story TheoryInadequacy vs. Empowerment! Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Plot vs. Theme! Truth! Story – Explanation – Meaning Hero / Villain / Conflict The Hero’s Journey The Back Story?

Self ActualizationSelf Esteem

Love / BelongingSafety

Physiological

Making Stories MemorableSimpleUnexpectedConcreteCredibleEmotional Inspirational Empowering Transformational TruePlots: Challenge Connection Creativity

• Gap Theory• Curse of Knowledge• Style and Substance• Worldview / Framing• Brand Personalities• Brain: L: Analytic vs. R: Emotional• Quantitative vs. Qualitative

Exercise 1: Clarifying Your Values

Exercise 2: Review Your MissionFive Most Important Q’s:1.What is Our Mission?2.Who is Our Customer?3.What does Our Customer Value?4.What are Our Accomplishments?5.What is Our Plan?

Exercise 3: If we disappeared, who would care, and why?

Core Four:1.Who are we?2.Our Founding?3.Our Vision?4.Our Accomplishments?

+5.I know what you’re thinking…6.Teaching?7.Employee values in action

Where to Look:1.Our History2.Our Victories3.Our Defeats4.Mentors5.Current Events

Help Champions with Their Stories…1.Board Members2.Happy Clients3.Referral PartnersAcco

mplish

2

Storytelling: Top Take-Aways

200906092 TPB-AB21039 (09/09)

1. Stories help us make decisions, especially when we’re overwhelmed with information.

2. Stories help us to share values and to inspire champions for our cause.

3. Empowerment trumps inadequacy in the world of philanthropy.

4. Your values are key; people will connect with you based on shared values, not because of what you do; remember to go beyond “what we do.”

5. Your mission will help you to connect with your values, and to identify good stories.

6. Be memorable: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Inspirational, Transformational.

7. Don’t be cursed by your knowledge.

8. What is your brand personality? Build your stories to reinforce your personality.

9. Donors will decide to give based on your stories, and will use data to justify their decisions.

10.Collect ideas, write them, test them, share them, revise them, and help others to share them.