Stories matter. 

Humans make decisions through narrative. We move toward characters we care about, conflicts we understand, and closure that feels satisfying. StoryBrand 101 says it best: If you confuse, you lose. But if you tell a clear story, you help donors see the role they can play – and you move them to act. 

In the October 2025 issue of the AFP Magazine Advancing Philanthropy, an article on storytelling caught our attention. It explored six story types that strengthen donor connection. That got us thinking about how we approach stories inside our work – and inspired our own take on six stories every nonprofit can use to bring their mission to life.  

Read on for six story types we lean on here at Broad Oaks – and how any nonprofit can use them to highlight what matters most. Bonus: each section includes a prompt you can use to draft your own stories or plug into your favorite AI tool.   

1. The Small Story 

One person. One moment. One change. 

Small stories stick because they’re easy to remember. They show your mission in action without overwhelming your reader. It’s a brief window into a life that looks different because someone chose to give. 

Try this: Write a short, vivid story about one person your nonprofit helped. Focus on one moment where something changed for them and keep the story under 150 words.   

2. The Meaningful One 

Show the shift your work creates. 

What impact does a gift have? What change can a donor visualize their gift making possible? This story draws a straight line between their generosity and your outcomes. Donors need to see that connection to feel their gift matters. 

Try this: Show the impact of a single donor gift by describing the before-and-after for one person or family. Make the donor’s role clear, concrete, and visual. 

3. The Honest One 

Answer the question donors already have. 

Clear up a misconception that hinders giving. Name the elephant in the room, name the struggle you’re facing, and explain what it actually takes to do the work. Honesty builds trust – and trust builds generosity. 

Try this: Explain one misconception donors have about the work your organization does. Name the challenge clearly and show how donor support directly addresses it. 

4. The “Relevant Right Now” One 

Why does your mission matter today? 

Tie your story to this season, this moment, this need. Donors act when something feels timely and important. Relevance turns a passive reader into an active supporter. When we work with clients, we help them run urgent impact campaigns every year – and it’s this kind of story that we use for those appeals. 

Try this: Write a short message explaining why your mission matters this month or this season. Connect it to an immediate need, trend, or timely event. 

5. The “In Your Zip Code” Story 

Help donors see themselves in the picture. 

Pull them closer by making your mission relevant to their everyday lives. Give them a detail that makes the work feel local – even personal. Angie’s TED Talk from Cape May reminds us that nearly every person has received services from a nonprofit, from being born in a public hospital to attending a service in a house of worship. Proximity builds connection. Connection creates compassion. Compassion leads to generosity.  

Try this: Create a story that helps supporters see how your mission shows up in their everyday life or community. Include one relatable detail from the donor’s world. 

6. The Optimistic One 

Pair the need with a path forward. 

Donors need urgency, but they also need hope. Show them the gap – then show them the difference their gift makes. Optimism helps donors believe change is possible and that they can help create it.  

Try this: Describe a real need your organization is facing, then show a clear, hopeful path forward that donors can make possible with their gift. Balance urgency with optimism.  

The Takeaway 

Great fundraising isn’t about louder messaging. It’s about clearer storytelling. When you rotate through these six story types, you help donors understand the work, feel connected to it, and see a role for themselves in the solution.