Lynn Ierardi - Storytelling: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Success

Second Edition

https://www.giftplanningadvisor.com

What Others Are Saying...

People want to help, and want to give. A good story can move them from wanting to doing, and Lynn Malzone Ierardis wonderful book blends the latest science with her extensive experience to show readers how stories facilitate fundraising.

Paul J. Zak

Professor, Claremont Graduate University and CEO, Immersion Neuroscience

Lynns book will satisfy your hunger for the importance of storytelling and provide a recipe for success. Throughout each chapter you will discover ingredients that enable you to whip up the special sauce that is your charitys mission. Then you can go out and share it with the world. Bon appetit!

Alexandra Pia Brovey

Author of Zen and the Art of Fundraising: 8 Pillars of Success, Zen and the Art of Fundraising: 8 MORE Pillars of Success, and Zen and the Art of Fundraising: The Pillars In Practice

Lynns book is an excellent guide to navigating the unique world of philanthropic storytelling. Through a number of vivid examples and amusing anecdotes, she shares powerful advice for anyone interested in becoming a better fundraiser. Ive already begun to integrate a number of her recommendations into my own work as a digital communicator.

Johanna Humphrey

Director of Digital Communications

University of Pennsylvania Development and Alumni Relations

Storytelling is such a powerful way we can connect with our donors. Sharing stories is one of the most effective fundraising tools we have at The Nature Conservancy to create passion for our mission and saving the planet. Lynns book is filled with practical tips, techniques, and best practices for embedding storytelling into the fabric of our organizations.

Jackie W. Franey

Director of Gift Planning Fundraising

The Nature Conservancy

I was lucky to be Lynns frequent partner in fundraising during my time at the University of Pennsylvania and what she has accomplished with this book is sharing with you not only the true secret sauce of how to be a successful fundraiser, but also how to find the humor and joy while executing the art of the ask. Oh, and its sauce, not gravy, per my Italian grandmother!

Pamela Peters Arms

Real Estate Banking Vice President

Storytelling: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Success is an amazing read! Every fundraiser should spend time reading and digesting its insightful content. It will help them achieve greater success.

Eddie Thompson

CEO and Founder

Thompson & Associates

The point of instructional writing is to provide high utility, but that doesnt mean it has to be dry and boring. Lynn Malzone Ierardi has demonstrated that quite skillfully in her book on how to better use stories to succeed at charitable fundraising and, big surprise, she does it by providing about a dozen compelling stories. This is a must-read for anyone engaged in the field, but its also a pleasurable read.

Jason Huffman

Heavily seasoned (pun intended) food journalist and currently senior fish reporter for Undercurrent News

This book turns theory into reality. It converts complexity into practical tactics. Making this a reality requires a special person. It requires an in-the-trenches fundraising superstar. It requires someone who actually knows what it takes to capture multi-million-dollar gifts. It requires someone who understands the deep transactional complexity of complex mega gifts. And, more importantly, it requires someone who understands how to keep that complexity from killing the giving motivation. It requires someone like Lynn.

Russell James III, JD, PhD., CFP

Professor

Director of Graduate Studies in Charitable Financial Planning

The CH Foundation Chair in Personal Financial Planning

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Storytelling: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Success Second Edition

Lynn Malzone Ierardi, JD

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein.

Published by Gift Planning Advisor

Copyright 2021 Lynn Malzone Ierardi, JD

ISBN Print Book: 978-1-7366900-0-0
ISBN 978-1-7366900-1-7 (e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021944328

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About the Author

Lynn Malzone Ierardi, JD has been in the gift and estate planning field for more than thirty years. She is a leader in the charitable planning community. Lynn was elected Chair of the Board of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) after serving terms as Treasurer and Chair-elect. She has been a member of CGP since 1993 and is a member of the CGP Leadership Institute.

She is a past board member, conference chair, and past President of the New Jersey Council of Charitable Gift Planners, a current board member of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia, and a regular faculty member for the Planned Giving Course.

As the Director of Gift Planning for the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Lynn worked with several schools and centers and handled gifts of real estate university-wide. She has served as an independent consultant to a variety of nonprofit organizations through her firm, Gift Planning Advisor, founded in 2002.

Prior to joining Penn, she held gift planning positions in health and higher education, served as Vice President with the Merrill Lynch Center for Philanthropy, and practiced estate planning, tax, and real estate law.

After graduating from Lycoming College with a BA in English, Spanish, and Literature, she received her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. A dynamic and highly rated speaker, Lynn has presented at conferences, meetings, and webinars throughout the United States and in the United Kingdom on a variety of gift planning topics. She has also been a contributor to several gift planning publications, including Planned Giving Today.

She is the Proud Penn Parent of two adult daughters, Katie and Kristen, and lives with her favorite storyteller and husband, Mark, in Philadelphia. When not wearing a gift planning hat, Lynn enjoys wearing sunglasses on the beach, dancing the night away, or watching some of the most magnificent sunsets in the world at Lake Naomi. She has served as a member of the Lake Naomi Finance Committee and the Lake Naomi Board of Governors.