Apr 9 How to Write a Newsletter Every Month
Drew Foote
Because fundraising is all about relationships, that relationship doesn't die when you get to the field. It's only just begun, and the most natural way to keep the relationship going is to write a general newsletter. This is the easiest way to let all your financial partners know at the same time what's going on in your life.
Most will choose to send the newsletter over email, and that's a great option. Even with the efficiency of email, once a month may feel like an overwhelming amount of writing!
If you're writing five pages of information, it will be next to impossible to write a newsletter once a month while doing ministry full time. We're not suggesting the impossible.
Your monthly newsletter should be less than 300 words. You can even think of it as 1-2 scrolls on your phone. That's all people will read, so that's all you need to write.
When you keep it short, you definitely want to maximize the words you're writing.
Tell a Story
Cut back on the amount of information dowloaded. There's no need to tell every event that happened in the last month. Make the most of your minimal space by writing about one single story. Begin to set a goal of including 2 pictures and 1 story in every monthly newsletter. That's all you need.
When writing a story for your monthly newsletter, remember the basics of storytelling from elementary school, include: who, what, when , where, and why. Use descriptive language, telling about the atmosphere, the mood of the room, the smells around you. Your story can be as short as two paragraphs.
People would rather skip the guilt of not reading the five page update, and instead hear a story about what happened in 15 minutes, so they can feel like they were there with you.
Your picture captions should also communicate a lot. Use one full sentence to capture what was really happening in the photo, and let it be a part of the story you're already telling.
Commit to spending 30 minutes a month telling one story, drop it in an email, and you can accomplish a newsletter every month.
Drew Foote, Fundraising Coach
Some call me eccentric, some call me passionate, and some call me just plain weird. I love getting to hear others' stories, experiencing real connection with others, and seeing what drives them really fascinates me. I am thrilled to be a coach for Tailored Fundraising Solutions. When I'm not at my computer, I'll most likely be playing on my guitar or training at a local martial arts dojo!
building the relationship, partnership development
Apr 10 Involve Your Financial Partners in the Ministry
Apr 6 Provide a Generous Moment