Stories have been written, printed, blogged, shared, discussed, debated, and passed down through the generations. Why? Because people have an incredible appetite for stories. Stories trigger a physical response in the same way a delicious meal satisfies.

Nonprofit organizations have amazing stories to share -- stories of perseverance, fortitude, and generosity.

Stories give nonprofits a way to stand out in a world that gets noisier every day, where people are looking for ways to find meaning and connection.

Great stories engage donors and raise more money. Scientific evidence confirms good storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to engage stakeholders and influence behavior. Stories raise awareness, change behavior, and trigger generosity. Facts and logic are not nearly as persuasive as a good story. Stories penetrate our natural defense systems and become more compelling and memorable. As a result, great stories can be very powerful.

But what makes a great story? What ingredients engage the audience and have an impact? What flavors will spark the appetite and make the mouth water? There are some ingredients that are essential. You just can't make a good sauce (or gravy as my grandfather called it) without tomatoes.

Like a good meal, storytelling can be delicious if it is executed with a bit of strategy. It requires planning the meal, choosing and collecting the right ingredients, and then sharing the meal with the right people, in the right setting, and at the right time.

With the right recipes, you will use stories to engage stakeholders and increase gifts to your organization. In the chapters of Storytelling: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Success, you will find the recipes to become a storytelling gourmet

Winner of the BookAuthority's 2020 Best Fundraising Books of All Time Award

BookAuthority, which collects and ranks the best books in the world, named Storytelling: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Success among the best fundraising books of all time.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter One
The Menu: Introduction to Delicious Stories

Chapter Two
The Recipe for the Secret Sauce: Key Ingredients for a Good Story

Chapter Three
Shopping for the Perfect Ingredients: Finding Your Stories

Chapter Four
Serving up the Entr e: Sharing Your Stories

Chapter Five
Variations on the Recipe: Adding Spice to Your Stories

Chapter Six
The Side Dishes: The Many Ways Stories Can Be Served

Chapter Seven
The Kitchen Mishap: Navigating Change with Storytelling

Chapter Eight
The Dessert: Sweet Success Stories

Conclusion
Check Please Summary and Additional Resources

Appendix A
Story Collection Form

Appendix B
Sample Consent Form

Appendix C
Storytelling Culture Assessment Form

Appendix D
Resources