Salted Pork and Aged Cheese
The wine, cheese, and salted meats were perfectly arranged. The room had a view of downtown Seattle. The ‘right’ people started to arrive. I was a happy camper. One of my favorite causes was about to be highlighted in front of some new potential supporters.
I wasn’t sure, exactly, what the Executive Director (a longtime friend and mentor) had in mind for the presentation, but when it came I was blown away. Previous to co-founding this cause, my friend had a long career as a Fortune 500 marketing executive. I knew her presentation would be A plus, yet what I experienced in those few moments was a true masterclass in how to present and message a cause. It was brilliant. I wanted to replicate her model. Here is what impressed me:
- There was no technology. No computer. No flatscreen. No projector.
- Walking to the front of the room she carried five or six foam boards, approximately 2’ x 3’, each with a different picture.
- She settled in on a stool, foam boards close by, and began telling stories.
- At certain points she would hold up one of the foam boards, letting the pictures speak for themselves, simply adding visuals to her storytelling.
- She concluded her presentation (within ten minutes!) by sharing the mission of her cause, then inviting guests to ask questions and offer comments...
“Tell us more about the boy in that picture…”
“Was that woman able to reunite with her daughter?...”
“I noticed in that picture…”
“I wondered about that picture…”
“I’m curious about the last picture…”
Wow. I’m not sure I’ve ever observed more energy and interest during the Q&A of a nonprofit presentation.
There were no metrics given. There was no breakdown of program strategy. No discussion of important organizational partnerships. No highlighting of staff accomplishments and awards. (All of those things existed, of course). It was simply a few pictures, powerful storytelling, and a well executed summary of the mission.
When I break down the game film on this presentation, here are four of my takeaways:
⏰ Keep your presentation tight (plan for eight minutes, no longer than ten).
🤱 Tell specific and authentic stories of transformation. Use visuals to supplement the storytelling.
💹 Avoid overwhelming your audience with numbers, metrics, accomplishments, etc. People will ask about those things if they’re interested.
🍖Nice salted pork and aged cheese. Finger foods = smiles. And smiles are good.
This approach is particularly relevant to small gatherings of major donor prospects and can be implemented with or without a direct ask for donations.
What are some of your best practices when presenting to a small group of new friends? I would love to hear about it!
See you next time.
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I look forward to hearing about your good work.
Blessings,
