Story‑Driven Fundraising | Missionary, 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. 10h ago

    91 | 5 Signs Your Message Isn’t Clear Enough to Grow Support

    You’ve been fundraising for years. You’re sharing updates, meeting with donors, and talking about your ministry. Yet support still feels slower than it should. What if the problem isn’t the economy, donor fatigue, or too much competition? In this episode, I share 5 signs your fundraising message may be confusing donors—and how unclear messaging quietly keeps ministry support from growing. If fundraising feels harder than it should, this episode will help you identify what might be missing. Similar Episodes:  86 | Experiencing Ministry Burn Out? Josh and Corina Share How to Find Hope Again in Fundraising, Leadership, and Calling 84 | Stop Struggling to Write Ministry Newsletters: Include These 3 Things Every Time 77 | Your Fundraising Isn’t Connecting: 3 Ways to Turn Your Message Into a Compelling Story 👉 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. Jun 18

    89 | Fundraising Without Manipulation: 3 Ways Missionaries Can Invite Support Naturally

    You know your ministry needs support, but the last thing you want is for people to feel pressured, guilted, or manipulated into giving. That tension leaves many ministry leaders avoiding fundraising conversations altogether—or asking so cautiously that donors never understand the opportunity in front of them. In this episode, I share 3 practical shifts that help you raise support with confidence and integrity. Learn how to connect through authentic stories, communicate transformation, and invite donors into something meaningful without feeling salesy or awkward. Similar Episodes:  86 | Experiencing Ministry Burn Out? Josh and Corina Share How to Find Hope Again in Fundraising, Leadership, and Calling 84 | Stop Struggling to Write Ministry Newsletters: Include These 3 Things Every Time 77 | Your Fundraising Isn’t Connecting: 3 Ways to Turn Your Message Into a Compelling Story 👉 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
  3. Jun 15

    88 | Fundraising Is Slow? 5 Amazing Outcomes When You Clarify Your Message

    Fundraising feels exhausting when you’re working hard, communicating often, and still not seeing momentum. You know your ministry matters, but somehow donors don’t seem to fully understand the urgency, the impact, or why they should get involved. In this episode, I share 5 powerful outcomes that happen when you clarify your fundraising message. You’ll discover why clear messaging helps donors connect faster, stay engaged longer, and makes fundraising feel lighter, simpler, and far more effective. Similar Episodes:  86 | Experiencing Ministry Burn Out? Josh and Corina Share How to Find Hope Again in Fundraising, Leadership, and Calling 84 | Stop Struggling to Write Ministry Newsletters: Include These 3 Things Every Time 77 | Your Fundraising Isn’t Connecting: 3 Ways to Turn Your Message Into a Compelling Story 👉 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
  4. Jun 8

    86 | Experiencing Ministry Burn Out? Josh and Corina Share How to Find Hope Again in Fundraising, Leadership, and Calling

    Burnout in ministry is rarely a matter of if. It’s usually a matter of when. In this episode, I’m joined by Josh and Corina from the Believe and Become podcast as they share their story of serving in worship ministry for years, carrying too much, hitting emotional and physical overwhelm, and realizing something had to change. We talk about identity, pressure, perfectionism, rest, hearing God’s voice, and how to recognize the lies that make ministry feel heavier than it was ever meant to be. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this really what ministry is supposed to feel like?” this conversation will encourage you. Similar Episodes: 81 | No Time to Fundraise? 3 Ways to Get Time Back for Ministry Support 77 | Your Fundraising Isn’t Connecting—3 Ways to Turn Your Message Into a Compelling Story 74 | What NOT to Say When Fundraising for Your Ministry (And What to Say Instead) 👉 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

    49 min
  5. Jun 4

    85 | Too Busy to Fundraise? 3 Simple Ways Ministry Leaders Stay Consistent in Busy Seasons

    You know donor communication matters… but right now? You can barely keep your head above water. Summer schedules. Ministry emergencies. Family needs. Constant reacting. And somewhere in the middle of all that, you’re still supposed to send newsletters, stay connected with supporters, and keep fundraising moving forward. In this episode, we’re talking about what to do when ministry life gets so overwhelming that donor communication keeps getting pushed aside. If you’ve been feeling underwater lately, this episode will help you create a realistic rhythm that actually works in busy ministry seasons. Similar Episodes:  81 | No Time to Fundraise? 3 Ways to Get Time Back for Ministry Support 77 | Your Fundraising Isn’t Connecting—3 Ways to Turn Your Message Into a Compelling Story 74 | What NOT to Say When Fundraising for Your Ministry (And What to Say Instead) 👉 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
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