story smart, LLC

Strategies and Storytelling to Take Your Fundraising Further

Follow me on LinkedIn   Follow me on Twitter
  • Home
  • Value
  • Services & Terms
  • About My Work
    • Samples
    • Project Gallery
    • Testimonials
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Contact

How did I wind up here?

March 21, 2017 By Amy Scanlon

I’ve always wanted to help create a world where every person has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Today, I do that by applying my training and experience to help nonprofits to build stronger relationships with their donors and raise more money for their missions.

Early in my career, I crossed the line from program work to fundraising, mostly out of necessity. My employer no longer had funds to sustain my administrative position, but they did have an open job for a grantwriter. Seeing an opportunity not only to make that months’ rent, but to ensure greater job security for myself in the future, I threw myself into grantwriting. Soon, I expanded into other areas of development, including direct mail and in-person solicitation for major gifts.

It wasn’t easy at first. Grantwriting was okay because it was a lot like writing papers for college—something I was very comfortable with. However, asking for money directly was harder. As an introverted person, I found it terrifying to pick up the phone and call someone I didn’t know to ask them for money, or even for a meeting.

Over the years, as my knowledge of fundraising deepened and my confidence rose, I found that I actually enjoyed raising money. People think fundraisers spend all of our time talking about money and haggling with donors over gifts, as if we were car salesmen. To the contrary, in fundraising, we spend a lot of time communicating with people about their hopes and passions and showing them how they are making a difference in this world.

I’m thrilled to be able to use my writing skills to help nonprofit tell their stories in ways that motivate people to give more and do more for the cause. While I hope that each organization raises more money as a result, it’s not ultimately about dollar figures. This is how we build a better world.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Amy Scanlon, grantwriting, writing

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Tags

acknowledgement acknowledgment American Rescue Plan Act Amy Scanlon Amy Scanlon Consulting coronavirus covid donor-centered grant grantwriting nonprofit storytelling thank you writing

Blog Archives

  • March 2021 (1)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (1)
  • April 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • June 2017 (2)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (1)

Contact Me

Email: ascanlon@storysmartllc.com
Phone: 202-365-6637

LinkedIn | Twitter

Recent Blog Posts

  • Get grant ready: American Rescue Plan Act funding
  • Storytelling for grant reports
  • 2 Quick Fixes to Make Right Now to Your Fundraising Appeal

Search This Site

Copyright by story smart, llc. All rights reserved. Site Design by Cindy Leonard Consulting.

Home page icons by the Noun Project.