Better stories drive more donations. Learn the four high-impact storylines that Hollywood uses in TV and film so that you can use it for your nonprofit crowdfunding campaign.

1. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYTELLING FOR
NONPROFIT CROWDFUNDING
Rob Wu, CEO of CauseVox

2. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYTELLING MATTERS
• It drives donations
• It drives sharing (especially on social media)
• It builds a movement

3. @robjwu / @causevox
ABOUT CAUSEVOX

4. @robjwu / @causevox
ABOUT CAUSEVOX
CauseVox is a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits, causes,
and social good projects.

5. @robjwu / @causevox
FREE EBOOK!
Get our free ebook on Hollywood storylines you
can use for crowdfunding:
!
http://www.causevox.com/ebooks/hollywood-
storylines-nonprofit-storytelling/

6. @robjwu / @causevox
–You
“I don’t know how to tell a good story”

7. @robjwu / @causevox
–You
“I don’t dig wells or help kids; my story
isn’t sexy”

8. @robjwu / @causevox
–You
“I have a fundraising appeal – isn’t that
my story?”

9. @robjwu / @causevox
CLASSIC STORYLINES

10. @robjwu / @causevox
OVERCOMINGTHE MONSTER
#1

11. @robjwu / @causevox
Protagonist sets out to defeat a deadly force or
antagonist that threatens him or his home and
community.

12. @robjwu / @causevox
WHEREYOU’VE SEEN IT
OVERCOMINGTHE MONSTER: JAMES BOND

13. @robjwu / @causevox
WHEREYOU’VE SEEN IT
OVERCOMINGTHE MONSTER:AVENGERS

14. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Defeat
Defeat
Silva
Chitauri
Bond
Heroes
Skyfall
Avengers

15. @robjwu / @causevox

16. @robjwu / @causevox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLqqJkKeJMk

17. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Earth
Rights
Films Corps

18. @robjwu / @causevox
IDEAS IN ACTION
• Embrace that you’re the underdog.
• If there’s no clear antagonist, define the enemy or
threat.
• Rally supporters by showing them what the
enemy can do.

19. @robjwu / @causevox
RAGSTO RICHES / REBIRTH
#2

20. @robjwu / @causevox
Protagonist starts out as poor and downtrodden,
but rises in the world through wealth, status, love,
and more. May include momentary loss of it all
and grows up because of it.

21. @robjwu / @causevox
The main character(s) has an inner
transformation that leads to a new
perspective on life.

22. @robjwu / @causevox
RAGSTO RICHES: PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

23. @robjwu / @causevox
REBIRTH:A CHRISTMAS CAROL

24. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Provide Life
Chris
Gardner
Pursuit of
Happyness
Generosity SelfScrooge
A Christmas
Carol

25. @robjwu / @causevox

26. @robjwu / @causevox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLqqJkKeJMk

27. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Harry Overcome Homelessness

28. @robjwu / @causevox
IDEAS IN ACTION
• Tell the story of a disadvantaged kid that got into
Harvard.
• Tell a story of a cancer survivor.
• Good opportunity for personal narratives or
testimonials.

29. @robjwu / @causevox
IDEAS IN ACTION
• Flashback videos orTweeting past events as if they
were today
• Q&A interviews before and after with someone
going through a “rebirth” process.
• Letters to my former self, a timeline of milestones
and achievements

30. @robjwu / @causevox
THE QUEST /VOYAGE
#3

31. @robjwu / @causevox
Protagonist and companions set out to acquire an
important object or reach a destination,
encountering perils and obstacles along the way.

32. @robjwu / @causevox
QUEST:WIZARD OF OZ

33. @robjwu / @causevox
QUEST: LORD OFTHE RINGS

34. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Go home
Ring
Witch
Bad Guy
Dorthy
Hobbit
Wizard of
Oz
Lord of
the Rings
Supporters
Team D
Team F

35. @robjwu / @causevox

36. @robjwu / @causevox
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwMnVJ8NS2g

37. @robjwu / @causevox

38. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Wear a
dress
Education
funding
You
Do it in
a Dress
Grow a
beard
Breast
cancer
You
Beards for
Boobs

39. @robjwu / @causevox
IDEAS IN ACTION
• Think of your mission as a quest, and map out the
journey (literally: make a map!), recruit companions
(partners, supporters), and stock up on supplies.
• Get supporters to tell stories of their journey via
personal fundraising pages

40. @robjwu / @causevox
TRAGEDY
#4

41. @robjwu / @causevox
The main character is a villain who delves
deeper into darkness before ultimately falling
too far, and dies.

42. @robjwu / @causevox
TRAGEDY: BREAKING BAD

43. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Folly Antagonist
Pride SelfWalterBreaking Bad

44. @robjwu / @causevox

45. @robjwu / @causevox
http://vimeo.com/21594579

46. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE CONCEPT
Protagonist Call to Action Antagonist
Destruction PeopleTsunamiJapanTsunami

47. @robjwu / @causevox
IDEAS IN ACTION
• Tread lightly with sad and dark storytelling to avoid
the dreaded “poverty or charity porn.”
• Be strategic with imagery and personal stories to
make a point and show what happens if you
DON’T make progress on your mission.

48. @robjwu / @causevox
STORYLINE SUMMARY
1. Overcoming the monster
2. Rags to riches / Rebirth
3. Quest /Voyage
4. Tragedy

49. @robjwu / @causevox
FREE EBOOK!
Get our free ebook on Hollywood storylines you
can use for crowdfunding:
!
http://www.causevox.com/ebooks/hollywood-
storylines-nonprofit-storytelling/

50. @robjwu / @causevox
LET’S STAY INTOUCH!
Rob Wu, CEO of CauseVox
www.causevox.com
!
@robjwu / @causevox