Honolulu ∙ Monday June 13, 2022 ∙ 9 am - 4 pm ∙ Ala Moana Hotel ∙ 410 Atkinson Drive
You're invited to attend The Narrative Fundraising Seminar in June:
HOW TO WRITE BETTER, RAISE MORE, & SERVE MORE
SOLUTION:
This writing workshop moves beyond theory to practice. You'll learn how to avoid the 5 fatal mistakes fund appeals make. You will write copy, then read aloud what you have written, and receive immediate feedback on how you can improve. You will learn about 50 key factors . . .
FUNDRAISERS, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
Peter Drucker had just finished his book on nonprofit management as I began researching fund-raising language at Claremont's Drucker School. Peter was interested in my work since he felt the two keys to success were innovation and marketing (fundraising for a nonprofit).
I FOUND THAT FUND APPEALS MAKE 5 FATAL MISTAKES:
Factor analysis of 1.5 million words of text found the typical appeal from an elite nonprofit:
● 10 rhetorical superstructures of the connecting narrative moment—the heart and soul of a fund appeal
● 23 linguistic features of personal emotional connection—words that make an appeal read like a conversation sounds
● 6 linguistic features of obfuscation to avoid—words and structures that create dense, tangled, detached prose
● 6 linguistic substructures of narrative—the story materials used to build the connecting narrative moment
● 5 visual language factors that add to text what a smile adds to speech—how paralanguage lifted response 346%
● Reads more like an academic paper than a conversation—preferring abstract concepts over making a human connection
● Has fewer narrative linguistic features and rhetorical structures than an official document—high exposition/low dialogue
● Lacks the three types of characters needed to build a story—protagonists, antagonists, and ensemble cast members
● Fails to create tension with events, dialogue and imagery—doesn't make a reader scared, sad, glad or mad enough to act
● Neglects to offer the leading role of hero to a donor—doesn't show how a gift can bring resolution to a nonprofit's story
AGENDA:
Schedule:
● Full Writing Workshop: 9 am - 4 pm, Monday June 13 (We'll take a 45-minute break for lunch at noon)
● Free Summary Briefing: 4:15 pm - 5 pm (for those who can't attend the workshop)
Save Your Spot:
● To Register for the full Writing Workshop, click on the Register for Seminar tab above. Cost: $225
● To Register for the Summary Briefing, email Frank@NarrativeFundRaising.org. Cost: Free
Two Payment options:
● Online: Pay online using a credit card by clicking theBuy Now button. (Click Register for the Seminar in header)
● By Mail: Pay by sending a check payable toHigh Touch Communication
Mail to: FrankDickerson | 7412 Club View Drive | Highland CA92346