Lessons from Brian
Brian resided at the homeless shelter where I worked. He grew up in Detroit, ended up ramshackled to the streets as a crack cocaine addict for years and spent time in jail. He lived in housing not habitable for humans. He ODed and died twice. The second time the paramedics saved him with multiple doses of Narcan.
Brian got a second chance. And he took it.
Following in the footsteps of an uncle 20 years before, Brian embraced the recovery program at the homeless shelter. He mopped floors in the chapel. Worked his program. To all of us, he exemplified what our programs aimed to do. So we used his story in fundraising materials and even shot a video for our fundraising gala. Within weeks of our gala, he got married to a high school sweetheart. Life looked up.
Then Brian crashed.
He started drinking again. His body couldn’t handle the high levels of alcohol anymore.
He ODed for the last time.
In a place like this homeless shelter, we had too many stories of lives transformed that we could use for fundraising. Brian’s story was exceptional. Until it wasn’t.
So what did I learn from Brian? Here’s 3 important lessons:
Use the story. Brian’s tale of transformation was still true, at least for awhile. So when we did a video, and a newsletter story, and who knows what else, it was legitimate to use and it impacted people. So it’s a good thing. If a client at your nonprofit slips backward, goes back to the streets, if the dog you featured at the animal shelter bit someone, if the art gallery where you worked lost a funder you relied on, use the story anyway.
Look for the best representative for your mission. This contradicts #1, but it’s still true. In addiction recovery, find the person who has been sober for a long period of time. Someone who really proved themselves as being regenerated thanks to the services you provided. Find the best story. Use that.
Any story will do. Fortunately, any story will do. In fundraising writing, you can do a lot with a little. Some nonprofits even use unfinished stories and invite the donors to finish it with their gift.
