Storytelling has the power to captivate funders, evoke emotions, and create a lasting impact and is an essential component of any funding application. In his latest blog, our Funding Officer, Will, explains why and shares some tips for incorporating it into your bid writing.
In the world of bid writing, where funding opportunities are becoming increasingly limited, it's crucial to stand out from the crowd. While presenting facts, figures, and project details is important, incorporating storytelling into your bid applications can make a significant difference. Storytelling has the power to captivate funders, evoke emotions, and create a lasting impact. Let's explore why storytelling is an essential component of successful bid writing applications.
Storytelling enables you to present your project in a relatable and meaningful way. Instead of solely focusing on technical aspects, storytelling allows you to illustrate how your project addresses a specific problem or meets a community's needs. By framing your bid within a narrative, you can demonstrate its relevance and the value it brings to the intended beneficiaries.
Storytelling can also help with communicating impact as funders want to see the tangible outcomes and lasting changes that their investment will bring. Through storytelling, you can vividly portray the positive transformation your project aims to achieve. By painting a picture of the future and showcasing success stories, you can convey the long-term impact and sustainability of your project.
A technique to do this within storytelling can be to create emotional connections. Funders are more likely to support projects that resonate with them on an emotional level. By weaving a compelling narrative into your bid application, you can evoke empathy, compassion, and a sense of urgency. Personal stories, testimonials, or anecdotes can help funders connect with the beneficiaries of your project and understand the real-world impact it will have.
Some practical tips on how to conduct storytelling include the use of images to showcase the impact of work you do and how you benefit the communities you serve. This helps to evoke emotions can create a more immersive experience for the reader, helping them to connect to your cause. However, it is important that consent is gained before you use any visuals.
Another method is to thoroughly explain your statistics, this could be done by stating how many people you have helped, then going into detail on one specific case to show how meaningful the work is that you are doing. It is also good practice to tell your story concisely and avoid repetition, this will help you to maintain the reader’s attention, demonstrate clarity and focus within your application and adhere to the funder’s guidelines.
Remember, effective storytelling in bid writing is not about fabricating or exaggerating facts and that Authenticity and transparency are key in building trust and credibility. It's about presenting your project in a way that resonates with funders and showcases its unique value and impact.
For further advice about how to incorporate storytelling into your bid writing, please contact us at funding@sparksomerset.org.uk or check out some useful links below:
- Charity Digital - How to put storytelling at the heart of fundraising
- Charities Aid Foundation - 10 tips to encourage story telling in your charity
- Craig Myle - The power of storytelling in bid writing
