Sharing Stories

Connecting With Why We Care About Our Day School

We have become staff members or volunteers with our school because we connect with the work, value the benefits provided to the community, and appreciate the vision for our collective future. Someone once said, “Facts raise eyebrows; stories raise money.”

How can you best articulate why you care when talking about your school?

Origin story:

• When was the school originally founded?
• What community need was the catalyst?
• Who stepped up to make it happen? What led them to do it?
• What obstacles did they overcome in order to achieve success? Who helped them?
• What inspires you most about this story? How is it relevant today?

Hero story:

• Who is a hero at the school today, and why? (This could be a leader, but it may be a student, teacher, or other staff member)
• What is it about that person that you admire most?
• How do they exemplify what is best/unique about your school and the impact it has in the community?
• How has knowing this person and/or their story changed your life and inspired you to do more?

Personal story:

• How did you first hear about the school, and what factors motivated you to get personally involved?
• What has changed as you’ve become more involved?
• What do you think is most important about the school today?
• What is the one thing you are most proud of as a result of your involvement?

Donor story:

• Is there a donor whose giving has inspired you?
• Why has their giving been so inspiring?
• What has it made possible?
• How has this donor influenced your own attitude toward giving to the school? Why?

Prizmah acknowledges Collins Group: a division of Campbell & Company in the development of the material above.