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

Lisa Diaz - Fundraising Coach, Nonprofit Strategist

Do you wish fundraising was easier? Do you wish you didn’t have to worry so much about the money? Feeling the awkwardness, the icky-shame feeling of asking for money? Putting so much effort in but still getting “nos” or worse… ghosting? I’m excited you’re here!! This is the place for you to learn how to fundraise easier, get rid of the shame and awkwardness of asking for money, and finally start growing supporters for your ministry that stay for the long haul! Hi, I’m Lisa. I love Jesus, have been in ministry since I was born (missionary kid here) and I love being a part of what God is doing in people’s lives! I’ve worked with and in ministries that struggle to truly connect with supporters. I’ve seen the stigma around raising support, the scramble across platforms and videos to “keep up,” and the relentless trial-and-error that never quite clicks—often ending in burnout. But then I saw first hand the power of story and was BLOWN AWAY at how quickly it engaged donors and encouraged them to donate- the first time I used the power of story in our messaging, we raised so much support, the team wasn’t even prepared for it! This had never happened before! And I want the same for your ministry!! If you’re ready to finally raise the support you need—without the constant stress or worry… If you want to grow your base of supporters and keep them with you for the long haul… If you’re looking for a simple strategy you can use again and again—one that replaces burnout with confidence… And if you’re ready to drop the awkward, icky, or shameful feelings around asking for money… Then this podcast is for you. Grab your coffee, your calling, and maybe a snack—let’s do this. -Lisa Connect w/ me:lisa@irisstorytelling.comhttps://irisstorytelling.com

  1. 3D AGO

    69 | 3 Reasons Why Donors Aren’t Engaging With Your Ministry Fundraising

    **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 in, why your message may not be connecting emotionally, and the consistency gap that quietly weakens donor trust over time. If you’ve been wondering why people aren’t paying attention, this will help you see what needs to shift. Similar Episodes:  59 | 3 Signs Your Fundraising Message is Turning Donors Away 57 | Not Getting Enough Donations? 3 Story Shifts That Inspire People to Give 63 | Missionary Basics: 5 Steps to Share Your Story Clearly—Even If Fundraising Feels Awkward 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    19 min
  2. 6D AGO

    68 | How to Start a Fundraising Conversation Without Feeling Pushy

    **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 conversations with clarity and confidence (without feeling pushy or salesy). If you’ve ever avoided sending that email or delayed reaching out because it just felt… off, this episode is going to hit home. Similar Episodes:  63 | Missionary Basics: 5 Steps to Share Your Story Clearly—Even If Fundraising Feels Awkward 55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support 51 | Hate fundraising? 3 Ways to Ease the Ick of Asking for Money 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    20 min
  3. APR 2

    67 | Why Your Nonprofit Fundraising Feels Messy (And How to Build a Foundation That Works)

    **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 getting back to the root. You’ll learn how to build a simple, clear foundation for your fundraising so everything you say actually works together—and starts leading to real connection with your donors. If you’re tired of guessing what to say and just “throwing things out there”… this is where things start to change. Similar Episodes: 55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support 58 | Why Your Donors Aren’t Engaging—and 3 Simple Story Fixes That Reignite Connection 46 | Donors Aren’t Responding—Here’s What Your Fundraising Message Is Missing 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    20 min
  4. MAR 30

    66 | Ministry Fundraising Without Stories? Build a Simple Story Bank That Keeps Donors Engaged

    **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 donors. Instead of waiting for huge transformation stories to appear, you’ll learn how to notice, capture, and store the small moments where God is already at work in your ministry.   Similar Episodes:  #31 – 4 Steps to Sharing Stories That Engage Donors #24 – How to Find Stories That Inspire Donors (Even When Ministry Feels Quiet) #43 – Why Your Fundraising Messaging Isn’t Working — And How Storytelling Fixes It 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    18 min
  5. MAR 26

    65 | 3 Ways to Build Long-Term Donor Relationships That Actually Last

    **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 you’re constantly asking for money? In this episode, I share 3 simple ways to build stronger donor relationships so your supporters stay engaged long-term—and feel like they’re truly part of the mission. Similar Episodes:  Ep. 08 | 3 Steps to Build a Ministry Story Bank that Engages Donors Ep. 32 | Why Do Donors Go Silent? 3 Relationship Gaps Ministries Miss Ep. 31 | 4 Steps to Sharing Stories That Engage Donors 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    23 min
  6. MAR 23

    64 | LIVE COACHING: The Donor Clarity That Transformed Her Ministry Fundraising

    Join my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the ick. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising Most ministries talk about how to ask for donations. But very few stop to ask a more important question: Who are we actually asking? In this episode, you’ll hear a real live coaching session where we work through identifying Cherilyn's ideal donor for her ministry. As the conversation unfolds, something powerful happens — the entire perspective on fundraising shifts from asking people for money to realizing you actually have something meaningful to offer the right donor. If you’ve ever felt like you’re casting a wide net and hoping someone responds, this episode will help you see how clarity about your donor can completely transform your ministry fundraising. Similar Episodes #57 – Top Ways to Attract Ideal Donors: A Clearer Approach to Ministry Fundraising #56 – Why Your Ministry Fundraising Ideas Fail (And the 1 Shift That Changes Everything) #50 - LIVE COACHING: Identify Your Ministry's Main Need for Fundraising w/ Cherilyn Kolbas 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    25 min
  7. MAR 19

    63 | Missionary Basics: 5 Steps to Share Your Story Clearly—Even If Fundraising Feels Awkward

    **Join my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the “ick.” In one hour, you’ll learn why fundraising feels so uncomfortable, how to reframe it so it feels honest, and what to say to start the conversation. Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising ** When someone asks what your ministry does, do you start rambling, listing programs, and hoping it all makes sense? In this episode, I share five simple steps to make your ministry fundraising message clear so donors can quickly understand what you do, why it matters, and how they can partner with you.  If you want clearer donor communication and more confident fundraising, this episode will help you get there. Similar Episodes:  55 | Fundraising is Overwhelming- Here's a Story-Driven Marketing Plan for Steady Support 46 | Donors Aren’t Responding—Here’s What Your Fundraising Message Is Missing 43 | Why Your Fundraising Messaging Isn’t Working—and How Storytelling Fixes It 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    19 min
  8. MAR 16

    62 | Struggling to Fundraise? How a Clear Marketing Plan Can Get Your Ministry Fully Funded

    **Join my FREE Fundraise with Confidence Workshop and learn how to ask for money without the "ick". Save your spot: irisstorytelling.com/fundraising ** Fundraising can feel like the one part of ministry nobody prepared you for. You love the mission. You care deeply about the people you serve. But when it comes time to ask for support, something feels awkward, uncomfortable, or even a little “icky.”  In this episode, I share a simple marketing framework that makes ministry fundraising clearer, easier, and more aligned with how God actually designed partnership to work. Instead of guessing what to say or hoping people give, you’ll learn the three messaging shifts that help donors understand the role they can play in the story God is writing through your ministry. Similar Episodes 56 — Why Your Ministry Fundraising Ideas Fail and The #1 Way To Have Success 48 — Is There 1 Thing That Creates Explosive Fundraising Growth? 35 — The Fundraising Shift That Makes Donors Pay Attention 👉 Work with me one-on-one to clarify your fundraising message, remove the guilt around asking, and create consistent donor communication that actually works. https://irisstorytelling.com/coaching 👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write updates your donors want to read. https://irisstorytelling.com/guide 👉 Join the free community for women ministry leaders who fundraise — a place for encouragement, prayer, and learning how to use storytelling to connect with donors. https://irisstorytelling.com/community Connect with me: lisa@irisstorytelling.com https://irisstorytelling.com

    17 min
5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Do you wish fundraising was easier? Do you wish you didn’t have to worry so much about the money? Feeling the awkwardness, the icky-shame feeling of asking for money? Putting so much effort in but still getting “nos” or worse… ghosting? I’m excited you’re here!! This is the place for you to learn how to fundraise easier, get rid of the shame and awkwardness of asking for money, and finally start growing supporters for your ministry that stay for the long haul! Hi, I’m Lisa. I love Jesus, have been in ministry since I was born (missionary kid here) and I love being a part of what God is doing in people’s lives! I’ve worked with and in ministries that struggle to truly connect with supporters. I’ve seen the stigma around raising support, the scramble across platforms and videos to “keep up,” and the relentless trial-and-error that never quite clicks—often ending in burnout. But then I saw first hand the power of story and was BLOWN AWAY at how quickly it engaged donors and encouraged them to donate- the first time I used the power of story in our messaging, we raised so much support, the team wasn’t even prepared for it! This had never happened before! And I want the same for your ministry!! If you’re ready to finally raise the support you need—without the constant stress or worry… If you want to grow your base of supporters and keep them with you for the long haul… If you’re looking for a simple strategy you can use again and again—one that replaces burnout with confidence… And if you’re ready to drop the awkward, icky, or shameful feelings around asking for money… Then this podcast is for you. Grab your coffee, your calling, and maybe a snack—let’s do this. -Lisa Connect w/ me:lisa@irisstorytelling.comhttps://irisstorytelling.com

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