Fundraising that Works: Strategy, Storytelling, & the Right Collateral

TL;DR: With nonprofit budgets under pressure, an intentional fundraising strategy is essential…especially as a new year approaches. Start by defining clear goals, identifying your donor audiences, and mapping a timeline with key milestones. Then plan the right collateral for the right channels, from event print pieces to storytelling videos. Need help? Schedule a call with our creative team!

Economic uncertainty has made fundraising more competitive and less predictable. That’s exactly why a clear, repeatable, manageable strategy is vital. As you look ahead to the new year, success won’t come from last-minute pushes; it’ll come from proactive planning and the thoughtful deployment of collateral that meets your supporters where they are.

Where to Start: Strategy First

Define Your Goals  

Be specific: how much do you need to raise, by when, and for what? Tie outcomes to impact (e.g., “$100k funds 500 program hours”).

Determine Your Audience  

Define your donor segments: major donors, monthly givers, event attendees, corporate partners, and new prospects. Clarify what each group values and how they prefer to engage.

Create a Timeline  

Place your most important events, campaigns, and milestones on a calendar: annual appeals, matching gift windows, Giving Tuesday, fiscal year-end, and your signature event. Work backward to assign deadlines for content, approvals, and outreach.

Plan the Collateral: The Right Pieces in the Right Places

Campaign Branding  

Creating a visual brand identity for your campaign is important. Having a brand that works across all your digital and physical platforms will make your appeal more cohesive and professional. We worked with Newbreak Church in California on their Prepare the Way campaign and created a distinct brand that reflected their unique community. 

Event Collateral

This can include everything from save-the-dates, formal invitations, print programs, pledge cards, slideshows, countdown videos, testimonial highlights, impact posters, and post-event thank-you mailers. For example, we partnered with Divine Dignity to craft collateral for their annual event, A Divine Evening. Each item guided donors toward a clear, confident gift.

Storytelling through Video

Video can bridge the gap between awareness and action. We recently produced a video with Lower Lights Health to tell the story of a family they served — offering an emotive, authentic call to support ongoing work.

To explore more examples of ways we’ve helped nonprofits reach their fundraising goals, view our portfolio here. If your organization needs content for a fundraising campaign, our team can help! Reach out to us to get started today.