http://www.thefrontlinefundraiser.com

1. MY PERSONAL STORY TEMPLATE
Goal is a 60 second story.
A Personal Story is first person – it’s your experience, your memories, your feelings. You will most often share it
individually, as you engage with someone whose interest and support you hope to cultivate.
Referring to these notes, use the back of this page to draft your story.
1. Describe an experience or memory that affected you, that matters: Examples:
 When I was a student/client/patient I recall
 I met a student/client/patient who
 I know a teacher/director who
 I met someone who
 I volunteer at _____ and
 I support a scholarship/fund for excellence and
 Other ? ? ?
2. Write your BRIEF story about it. Explain your connection, what happened, the impact of the
program/person referenced in your story. Include the outcome, the result: why this mattered
THEN, NOW, in the FUTURE
3. Draft your go-to Invitation. You might ask “What brought you here?” or “What’s your story?”
*** Your goal is to invite a response, to start a conversation of discovery; to learn more about this person
and seek opportunities for follow-up or referral. You might lead with your Invitation to start this
conversation, but be on the lookout for an opportunity to share YOUR story.
A Tale of Two Stories -- Which would you prefer to hear?
THIS
Our First Year Experience tutoring program is regularly attended by 75 struggling freshman students each week.
Faculty and volunteer tutors help with study skills, homework assignments, time management, and personal
counseling. On average, a student’s grade point average will improve by a full point over the course of the first
semester, and the student retention rate has improved by 15%.
OR THIS
I volunteer in the First Year Experience Program, to help freshmen with various academic deficiencies. Over the
course of this semester I have watched Michael, a young man from my home town, grow in so many ways as his
grades improved. When I first met him he could barely look me in the eye. During my visit to the study center last
week Michael met me at the door and showed me his mid-term English paper on John Milton. As important as the
B grade was, I was more impressed by Michael’s excitement as we had a real, lively conversation about why he
chose to study Milton. Michael is learning to think as well as improving his grades. This was learning on so many
levels. This program matters. (Time yourself reading this example. A 60 second goal is realistic.)