Fundraising Narrative Lab

Learn to build the narrative that gets your work funded.

You may know the work, you may know your donors, but translating complex programs, research, and ideas into a clear narrative that gives donors a reason to care and act is often the biggest roadblock to funding.Designed for nonprofit fundraisers, program staff, and scientists, the Fundraising Narrative Lab will give you the repeatable skills, framework, and tools to connect authentically, effectively, and ethically with your donors to achieve a shared vision.

Step inside the narrative approach that helped raise $300M+ a year in major gifts.

Meet Your Facilitator:
Kristine Jimenez

Kristine has more than 20 years of fundraising communications expertise across the global development, education, and biosciences sectors. Prior to founding Sol Service, she led the communications and events team for UW Medicine Advancement, developing the narratives that helped fundraisers, faculty, and leadership raise more than $300 million annually for biomedical research, medical education, and clinical care.Kristine specializes in developing compelling narratives for major and principal-level philanthropy, translating complex ideas, science, and work into stories that inspire donor support. Through Fundraising Narrative Lab, Kristine makes that expertise accessible to lean nonprofit teams and institutes, giving fundraisers, scientists, and program staff the frameworks, skills, and know-how to tell compelling stories that lead to mission-aligned support for their work.

Addressing a Critical Gap

Fundraisers know their donors. Program staff and scientists know the work. But without a framework to connect the dots, fundraising asks are often misaligned or fail to connect with what motivates donor giving. The Fundraising Narrative Lab encourages the participation of both subject matter experts and fundraisers from the same organization to build more effective fundraising collaboration.

What is the Fundraising Narrative Lab?

The lab is a hands-on, single-day workshop teaching participants how to build a fundraising narrative framework that's both ethical and effective, and then how to turn it into emails, conversations, and case documents for donors.Participants come with a current or future fundraising priority. By the end of the day, they've built:

  • A clear picture of their ideal donor and their motivation for giving

  • A donor value proposition and elevator pitch

  • Their three essential key messages and proof points

  • Templates and practice turning the narrative framework into a case for support, a donor email, a conversation outline, and a thank-you letter, leaving with real drafts

Who is it for?

The Lab is for nonprofit fundraisers, program staff, and scientists who need to secure major gift support and want a repeatable way to do it. It's built for people without a full communications team behind them, and it works for a mixed room: fundraisers who know donor psychology but aren’t subject matter experts, and scientists or program staff who know the work and may be adept at grant writing but aren’t sure how to pitch their story to secure private philanthropy.

What will participants leave with?

1. A finished philanthropic narrative framework for a specific fundraising priority that will serve as the foundation for every donor communication that follows
2. A repeatable approach they can implement for other philanthropic priorities
3. Templates and practice using AI to translate the framework into brand-aligned, donor-facing deliverables

What does the day look like?

The day starts with ethical grounding and a conceptual overview of the components of an effective fundraising narrative. We then start building the narrative framework: defining your ideal donor and developing your value proposition, voice and tone, elevator pitch, and key messaging. Once the narrative framework is complete, participants get live, hands-on practice turning everything they've built into a simple case for support and other donor communications.

What's the group size?

The Lab is designed for 15-20 participants and organizations are encouraged to send two people (ideally one program staff and one fundraiser) as a way to build a lasting communication bridge between program and fundraising teams.

Where can I get more details?

Learn more about the benefits of hosting or participating in a Lab and see this overview of the workshop. You can also contact me at any time at [email protected] or set up a free consultation.

Is this just for major giving?

Yes, primarily. The workshop is built around developing narratives for a specific project or objective with clear individual donor prospects, not a broad-based or community-wide appeal. While many of the narrative principles carry over to broader campaigns, we won't cover broad-based materials here.

Where do I sign up?

The Fundraising Narrative Lab is offered in partnership with host organizations, such as community foundations, universities, coalitions, or capacity building entities. Upcoming labs will be shared here. And please contact Kristine at [email protected] if your organization is interested in hosting a Lab.

If you want to host the Fundraising Narrative Lab for the fundraisers, program staff, and scientists in your network, let's talk.

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