Folly #67: The Stories We Tell
Storytelling is at the heart of grantwriting. And the Follies.
Good fundraisers are great storytellers.
Not the kind of wonderfully embellished Maya stories that my mom used to tell. The stories we tell in great fundraising are stories that help us connect. Empathy. Compassion. Caring. Hope. Renewal. Generosity. These are emotions that fundraising stories stoke in each of us.
After all, our belief that our grant or donation will create meaningful change is why we give.
My stories of how hard grant applications are
Nearly every week for two years I’ve been telling stories of how hard foundations make it for a nonprofit to get funding.
My goal isn’t to get your donation. It’s to improve the grantmaking process by giving voice to the nonprofit experience. And also to share great funding examples like easy applications and foundations that follow trust-based philanthropy practices.
It’s hard for a nonprofit to give voice to barriers to funding without a healthy fear of pissing the funder off.
Over decades of grantwriting, I have lots of stories to tell. But it’s more interesting hear these stories from the source.
It’s time to shift the voice of storytelling at the Follies.
Your story of how hard it is to get (or give) grants
You’ve read interviews here with others doing this work. Now it’s your turn.
Funder Follies invites you – foundation and nonprofit staff – to share your story.
Let’s be honest about what isn’t working in grant proposals. Share your thoughts about what is working. Suggest what we can do better.
Tell us more. Or let’s talk! My calendar is online, so pick a time that’s easy for you. It will be fun, I promise.
I’ll need a little time to shift into this new phase – and to do my annual 3-week backpacking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail. See you in September.