Right here’s a useful quadrant for understanding the kinds of tales we inform in fundraising, from Seth Godin, at A strong story:
After we share an concept, we will work to verify it’s true, however after we share all of the details, we’re merely boring folks. Tales are related, making a narrative and stress and alter.
A whole lot of fundraising tells “tales” within the decrease proper quadrant: Excessive on fact, low on relevance. Boring — and due to this fact ineffective at shifting folks to donate.
There may be additionally sadly a bunch of fundraisers who occupy the other nook: Excessive on relevance, however low on fact. It’s manipulation. It may work, particularly when the untruths feed folks’s preconceived beliefs. But it surely’s unethical. Fie on them!
We must always inform tales which might be excessive on relevance and excessive on fact.
It’s not all the time straightforward, nevertheless it’s the one manner!