If you feel like you’ve asked everyone you know for support—and you’re running out of people to approach—this episode will be a breath of fresh air. Today we’re talking about why relationship-based fundraising (“people give because they like me”) eventually hits a wall, and how to shift toward a mission-driven approach that’s stronger, deeper, and far more sustainable. You’ll learn the three steps to moving beyond friends-and-family giving: leaning into your ministry’s true vision and need, connecting donors to the real people you impact, and validating your donor’s own desire to be part of what God is doing. This simple shift will ground your fundraising, strengthen donor loyalty, and remove the pressure of feeling like it all depends on who you know.

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

If asking for money feels awkward, heavy, or even a little shameful, you are absolutely not alone—and it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode, we dig into why fundraising so often triggers discomfort, the beliefs we’ve absorbed over the years that make it feel “icky,” and how to reframe the entire experience through a healthy, God-centered mindset. You’ll learn simple shifts that help you see fundraising not as taking from others, but as giving them the opportunity to join what God is already doing. This perspective brings freedom, clarity, and even joy back into the process of inviting people to partner with your ministry.

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

If your fundraising feels buried under noise, ignored by donors, or lost in a sea of competing messages, this episode will help you cut through the overwhelm. Today we’re unpacking the simple storytelling element that makes donors lean in, pay attention, and actually engage with what you share. Whether you’re speaking, posting on social media, writing an email, or crafting a donor appeal, this key shift will help your ministry stand out and connect more deeply with the people God has called to support your work.

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

Are you having a hard time fundraising—and you can’t quite figure out why? Your ministry messaging might be confusing donors without you realizing it. In this episode, we break down the three key roles in every effective ministry story—why your donor must be the main character, how your ministry functions as the guide, and where the people you serve actually fit in. You’ll learn simple shifts that bring clarity to your message, strengthen donor connection, and help supporters instantly understand their role in the story God is writing through your ministry.

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

Most ministry leaders know they should send newsletters, but writing them often feels confusing, overwhelming, or like a task that isn’t actually helping their fundraising. In this episode, we break down how to turn your ministry newsletter into a trust-building tool by shifting your mindset, writing with intentionality, involving donors in the story, and staying consistent. You’ll learn how to communicate in a way that makes donors feel valued, connected, and eager to stay engaged—so your newsletters actually support your fundraising instead of draining your energy.

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

Why do donors go quiet—even when they believe in your ministry? In this episode, we unpack the three relationship gaps most ministries overlook and how they quietly lead to donor drift. You’ll learn why supporters stop engaging, what they need to feel connected, and the simple relational shifts that build trust and long-term partnership. If donor communication feels hard or inconsistent, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and practical steps to restore genuine connection.

Similar Episodes:

21 | When Donors Drop Off: 3 Ways to Keep Donations Flowing

16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

14 | 3 Things Confusing Your Donors (and How to Fix Them)

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

Ever felt overwhelmed, thinking “I should share stories with donors…but I don’t even know where to start,”?

You already know how powerful stories are—especially when you see God transforming lives through your ministry. Those stories lift you, encourage you, and remind you exactly why you do what you do.

But when it’s time to share those stories with donors and supporters?

Suddenly it feels hard.

Maybe you don’t know which stories to tell… or how to tell them well… or you feel like all your stories sound the same.

The good news? You can tell powerful stories—even if you don’t consider yourself a storyteller. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down a simple 4-step framework to help you find the right story, tell it clearly, and share it in a way that engages donors and highlights the work God is doing through your ministry.

What You’ll Learn

• The essential first step that makes any story instantly more compelling
• Why emotional clarity—not creativity—is what truly connects your donor to the story
• A simple structure you can follow to share stories confidently in emails, donor updates, social posts, or on stage

Similar Episodes:

24 | How to Find Stories That Inspire Donors (Even When Ministry Feels Quiet)

16 | Donors Ghosting You? The #1 Thing Every Ask Must Have

12 | Ministry Storytelling Made Simple: A Framework to Engage Donors

Ready to clarify your ministry’s message and engage donors? Schedule a free call: https://irisstorytelling.com/getstarted

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com

If you’re struggling to grow your donor base, build monthly support, or create real momentum in your fundraising… this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been missing.

In this episode, you’ll learn the three common fundraising mistakes ministries make that unintentionally lose donors—and the simple mindset and messaging shifts that will help you fix them.

What You’ll Learn

• The surprising clarity gaps that quietly push donors away (and how a small shift can open the door to more support)
• Why your current messaging may be working against you—and how to reshape it so donors immediately understand the heart of your ministry
• A simple framework that helps you communicate your mission in a way that draws the right supporters and builds lasting monthly partnerships

Similar Episodes:

26 | Your 5-Minute Window: The 5-Step Framework to Instantly Engage Donors at Church

21 | When Donors Drop Off: 3 Ways to Keep Donations Flowing

18 | Hate Fundraising? 3 Things to Get Rid of the Shame of Asking

👉 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

👉 Grab your free Ministry Newsletter Guide to easily write those updates that your donors want to read: https://irisstorytelling.com/guide

Connect w/ me:
lisa@irisstorytelling.com
https://irisstorytelling.com