Fundraising Begins With a Story, Not a Script

Ernest is retired from a long corporate career and a recent transplant to Florida.

We met as poll workers at a recent special election here in Palm Beach County.

It was a primary election, and it was not a busy day at our assigned polling location—meaning there was plenty of time to get to know the other people who had stepped up for a long day of work preserving democracy.

It turns out that Ernest is willing to show up for just about anything that promises joy or a sense of adventure. As we talked, he shared that he earned his commercial driver’s license so he could drive disabled students to their after-school programs. He applied for a temporary role as a drawbridge operator—just to see what it was like. He stopped to chat with school crossing guards one morning, and they liked him so much they asked him to apply to join their early-morning team.

He competes in triathlons for fun and is now training for his first open-water swim as a Florida resident.

I know I tend toward being an introvert, but I don’t know that I’ve ever met someone who so sincerely approaches every opportunity as an adventure—and every stranger as a friend.

What struck me most about Ernest wasn’t just his energy or curiosity. It was how easily he shared why he said yes to things. Each story carried a quiet explanation of what mattered to him: being useful, staying connected, contributing, trying something new. He didn’t overshare. He didn’t persuade. He simply let people see what brought him there.

And that, in many ways, is the heart of effective fundraising and storytelling.

When we approach new people—donors, volunteers, board members, or community partners—with a willingness to share what brought us to a mission, something shifts. The conversation moves from “what the organization needs” to “why this work matters.” It becomes human before it becomes transactional.

People don’t connect to case statements first. They connect to conviction. They listen differently when they understand the moment, the experience, or the question that pulled you toward the cause. Your story gives them permission to reflect on their own.

This is where strong fundraising leadership begins—and why non profit fundraising training is most effective when it centers storytelling, relationship-building, and confidence rather than scripts or pressure tactics.

Whether an organization is considering how to hire a fundraiser, evaluating nonprofit consulting rates, or investing in training for nonprofit executive directors, the same truth applies: people give to people before they give to institutions.

Too often, fundraisers and executive leaders feel pressure to lead with polish—the statistics, the programs, the urgency. But what opens the door is honesty. This is why I care. This is why I showed up. This is what keeps me saying yes.

Ernest doesn’t know he’s modeling a fundraising best practice while standing at a polling station, but he is. He reminds us that storytelling isn’t about performance—it’s about presence.

When we meet people with curiosity, openness, and a genuine willingness to share what brought us to the mission, we invite them into a story they may already be part of… even if they don’t know it yet.

At Team Kat & Mouse, we help nonprofit leaders find and share the stories that make fundraising feel natural, ethical, and effective. If you’re exploring non profit fundraising training, seeking training for nonprofit executive directors, or thinking about how to hire a fundraiser who can build authentic relationships—not just transactions—we’d love to be part of the conversation.

Visit us at www.teamkatandmouse.com to explore more insights, or reach out to learn how our consulting approach and transparent nonprofit consulting rates can support your organization’s next adventurous chapter.