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. FEB 16

    54 | Struggling With Ministry Fundraising? A Simple Story Framework That Finally Works

    You’re doing the work. You’re showing up. You care deeply about the mission—but when it comes time to write a newsletter or ask for support, you freeze. Fundraising feels heavy, confusing, and way harder than it should. In this episode, I walk you through a simple story framework you can start using immediately to bring clarity to your messaging and help donors stay engaged—without forcing yourself to say things that feel awkward or inauthentic. If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen wondering what am I even supposed to say?, this episode is for you. Related Episodes: 50 | Live Coaching: Finding the Real Conflict Behind Your Ministry Fundraising 49 | 3 Beliefs That Keep You Stuck in Ministry Fundraising 37 | Out of People to Ask? 3 Steps to Mission-Driven Fundraising 👉 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
  2. FEB 12

    53 | Lost in the Weeds? How Clear Messaging Makes Ministry Fundraising Easier

    When you’re buried in the day-to-day of ministry, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture—and even harder to explain what your ministry actually does. You end up stumbling through explanations, listing programs, and hoping donors somehow “get it.” In this episode, we talk about why unclear messaging makes ministry fundraising harder than it needs to be—and how to get out of the weeds. You’ll learn the three anchors every ministry message needs so donors understand your mission, feel confident joining you, and clearly see their role in what God is doing. Similar Episodes: Ep. 44 | The Mistake in Your Nonprofit Messaging That’s Costing You Donors    Ep. 45 | Did Your Big Fundraising Day Fall Flat? What to Do Before the Next One  Ep. 17 | When Fundraising Videos Don’t Work – 3 Steps for Clear Messaging 👉 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

    15 min
  3. FEB 9

    52 | When You're Burnt Out from Fundraising - 3 Simple Shifts For Clarity & Steady Support

    Ministry fundraising can feel exhausting—especially when you’ve been faithful for years and still feel like you’re barely making it. If you’re juggling everything, trying every strategy, and still feeling scattered, this episode is for you. In this conversation, we talk about why fundraising so often feels heavy and unfocused—and how to move from burnout and pressure into clarity and peace. I walk you through three simple shifts that help you stop carrying what God never asked you to carry, focus your efforts, and bring consistency to your message so fundraising can feel lighter again. Similar Episodes You Might Like: 13 | Donors Aren’t Responding—Here’s What Your Fundraising Message Is Missing 9 | Hate Fundraising? 3 Ways to Ease the Ick of Asking for Money 7 | Is There One Thing That Creates Explosive Fundraising Growth? 👉 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
  4. FEB 5

    51 | Hate Fundraising? 3 Ways to Ease the "Ick" of Asking for Money in Ministry

    If you hate fundraising and feel an overwhelming sense of shame or “ick” every time you have to ask for money, you’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong.  In this episode, we unpack why asking for money feels so uncomfortable for so many ministry leaders and share three practical mindset shifts that can ease (and even dissolve) that icky feeling.  If fundraising feels heavy, awkward, or emotionally draining—and you’re tired of forcing yourself to push through it—this episode will help you begin approaching fundraising with more confidence, clarity, and freedom. Similar Episodes:  14 | 3 Things Confusing Your Donors (and How to Fix Them) 13 | Donors Aren’t Responding—Here’s What Your Fundraising Message Is Missing 31 | Did Your Big Fundraising Day Fall Flat? What to Do Before the Next One 👉 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

    22 min
5
out of 5
8 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