Take the Course

The Storytelling Non-Profit

Master Class

Learn how to get more donations using storytelling to captivate your audience.

How to get more donations

About The Master Class

The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is an online class that shows non-profit professionals a step-by-step process for telling stories that raise money and awareness. Through my work with dozens of clients, researching my book, and teaching over 10,000 people how to tell great stories, I have developed this class to give you the tools and training you need to succeed at storytelling.

If you've wanted to tell incredible impact stories about your organization's work, tell stories that help you raise money, or tell stories that help you grow awareness about your cause, The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is for you. 

The focus of The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is learning how to tell stories. You'll learn the foundations of non-profit storytelling and how to get more donations. The Master Class will walk you through every aspect of how to do this from understanding your goal for storytelling, who your audience is, how to find stories, how to interview for stories, how to actually write a great story and how to get your story out into the world. 

Students have gone on to apply what they've learned in the Master Class beyond their fundraising program and to their organization's communications and public relations strategies.

What You'll Learn In The Master Class

  • Module One
  • MoDule Two
  • Module Three
  • Module Four

In Module One you will learn the basics of successful storytelling. Topics include:

  • The essential story structure to inspire giving
  • How to assess your organization's current storytelling efforts to plan for success
  • Understanding your audience in order to tell stories that resonate
  • How to get organizational buy-in for storytelling

In Module Two we will discuss how to find stories to tell and show you how to find the best stories within your organization. You will learn:

  • The importance of confidentiality and ethics for storytelling
  • How to find stories to tell
  • Key tools to use to find stories at your organization
  • Interviewing skills to help someone share their story

Module Three is where you will learn how to turn your interview into a full fundraising appeal. You will learn:

  • How to take your interview notes and develop them into a story
  • How to structure a fundraising appeal to maximize giving
  • How to write in ways that resonate with your donor audience

In Module Four you will learn how to get your stories and appeals out into the world. This module shows you how to develop a strategy and leverage that strategy to get results. You will learn:

  • How to create a cohesive plan for your audience
  • How to test your appeals to improve your results
  • How to measure the results and best practices for various fundraising channels

What Alumni Are Saying About The Master Class

"We have met our financial revenue targets every year since I've taken the Master Class."

We became more serious about tracking outcomes as a result of Vanessa's inputs. Also, as a small organization without a resource development department we have met our financial revenue targets every year since I've taken the class. However, equally importantly, as the primary writer for the organization the tips and guides that Vanessa offers has helped me be much more confident and efficient in writing. The incredible added bonus is the Office Hours that Vanessa offers which allows us to continue to get our questions answered in real time.

- Janice Haskell, Dreams InDeed Foundation

How The Master Class Works

The Master Class is taught through 10+ hours of instructional video content inside our online classroom. In addition to the instructional videos, you'll also receive worksheets and resources that complement each lesson and help you implement what you're learning. 

You'll have access to the discussion forums inside our classroom, plus a private Facebook group for on-going discussion and support with your storytelling. 

Enroll Today to Start Your Journey to Better Storytelling and Fundraising

When you sign up for the Master Class, you'll get immediate life-time access to all of the course modules, the private community Facebook group and access to month Office Hours calls.

Get Started Today for $447

Meet Your Instructor, Vanessa Chase Lockshin

Vanessa Chase Lockshin

Vanessa Chase Lockshin is an international non-profit consultant, speaker, and author of The Storytelling Non-Profit: A practical guide to telling stories that raise money and awareness.

Vanessa has helped clients raise millions of dollars, increase a monthly giving program to over 5,000 donors, improved donor retention rates, create donor stewardship plans, and develop winning digital strategies. 

Vanessa’s fundraising career started at The University of British Columbia, her alma mater. Her clients have included: Barnard College, Meals on Wheels Association of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Senior Medicare Patrol, The Dixon Transition Society, Zanesville Museum of Art, Win Without War, and OpenMedia. 

To date, she has trained over 10,000 non-profit professionals. Vanessa has been invited to speak at a number of events and associations including: The Association of Fundraising Professionals; The Council for Advancement and Support of Education; The Association of Donor Relations Professionals; BBcon; Mid-Valley Development Professionals; and many more. 

Your Invitation to Join

If your organization has told stories but has not seen results, I want to personally invite you to join me for the Master Class.

If your organization is brand new to storytelling, I want to personally invite you to join me for the Master Class.

The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is focused on learning how to get more donations using stories. Typically students have been fundraisers, executive directors, and even board members. Communications and marketing professionals have also joined the Master Class to learn how to improve donor communications.

Master Class alumni include a range of organizations from higher education institutions to small social service organizations, international development groups to hospital and health care organizations, arts and culture groups to environmental organizations.

The Master Class is a great fit for organizations who already have a fundraising program in place and are looking to learn how to make the most of their donor relationships and fundraising opportunities.

The Master Class is an immersive online learning experience taught over four core learning modules. The class is self-paced so you can work through the material at times that work with your schedule. You will also have lifetime access to the material taught in The Master Class so you can revisit the modules and materials any time, as well as on-going access to our Facebook community.

Alyssa-Scott“Enrolling in the Master Class was by far the best decision I’ve made for my professional development” said Alyssa Scott, a Master Class alumni.

Alyssa joined the Master Class because she wanted to learn how to use storytelling to improve her fundraising work.

Deciding to take the Master Class was not a quick decision for Alyssa. She spent some time debating whether or not to join the Master Class because her organization would not cover the fee. Ultimately, she was very glad she enrolled.

“I discovered problems I didn’t even know I had been facing! Direct mail appeals are one of my least favorite work projects and Vanessa made me really excited to find inspiring, compelling stories and to craft a message. . .”

Using what she learned in the Master Class, Alyssa was able to foster better collaboration among colleagues. Together they worked to create a quarterly storytelling themes. The result was that they could collect and share better stories in a more consistent way. “We got a lot of feedback from donors who loved the stories and messaging we were sharing,” said Alyssa.

When I asked Alyssa what she would tell someone who is thinking about joining the Master Class, here’s what she shared.

If you’re on the fence about signing up for the Master Class, you should go for it! You’re guaranteed to learn at least three things. . . and Vanessa is really great about making it incredibly easy to implement pieces of her lesson. She is also an invaluable resource you can reach out to about anything storytelling or fundraising related during the course of the class, and even after.

Frequently Asked Questions about the

Master Class


What is The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class?

The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is a 6-week online class taught by Vanessa Chase Lockshin of www.TheStorytellingNonprofit.com that will give you the tools, training, and confidence you need to be a great storyteller. Students go through the various lessons to learn how to tell great stories and have the opportunity to get personalized feedback from Vanessa.

When does The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class start and end?

The Master Class begins whenever you sign up! Most students take 4 to 6 weeks go through the class material.

How much does The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class cost?

The Master Class costs a one-time payment of $447 USD. We offer a 2 monthly payment installment plan.

What you get: All the learning modules, bonus lessons, and the private Facebook community.

I’ve never taken an online course before. What is it like?

The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is taught inside an awesome e-learning platform called Ruzuku. You will have a robust and interactive learning experience. In each module there is anywhere from 3 to 6 video lessons for you to watch. You can watch the lessons in all the modules, respond to the discussion questions, and implement what you learn using the worksheets and suggested homework assignments.

I’m a Major Gifts fundraiser. Is The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class right for me?

Every fundraiser can benefit from learning the advanced storytelling techniques that are taught during The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class. Each of the lessons and homework assignments will offer you options depending on the type of fundraising work you do. Vanessa will also suggest additional activities or ideas that are especially applicable to certain types of fundraising.

I work in Marketing/Communications. Should I take The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class?

You would be more than welcome in class! While The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class is geared towards fundraising professionals, the concepts can be applied to general communications and marketing.

It sounds great, but I’m worried about falling behind. How long will I have access to the course?

First, there’s no falling behind in The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class. This is a self-paced class, so you can go through the class at a pace that works for your schedule. And second, you get lifetime access to all class content. This way you can work through everything in your own time or revisit the materials again when you’re ready to do more work on storytelling.

I read that there are Office Hours coaching calls. Do those cost extra?

No! Your monthly Office Hours coaching calls are included in your enrollment fee and you’re always welcome to join the calls. Every month you’ll receive an email with a link to the call. Hop on, ask your questions and get personal coaching.


How Students are Using What They Learn in the Master Class

Curious how our Master Class alumni are applying what they learn in the Master Class? Here's what students have shared. 

  • Incorporating stories into direct mail appeals to raise 2x more than the prior year
  • Changing the format of email newsletters to increase subscriber engagement
  • Building up a story library of diverse content for multi-channel campaigns
  • Starting a story gathering initiative to re-engage alumni
  • Applying the Master Class frame work to finally integrate communications and fundraising
  • Writing compelling stories to pitch to the press that are getting picked up by local media
Get more donations

Enroll in The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class Today!

When you sign up for the Master Class, you'll get immediate life-time access to all of the course modules plus the private community Facebook group. 

Join the Master Class today with two payment options. 2 monthly payments of $227, or choose a 1 time payment of $447.

Enroll Today to Learn How to Get More Donations Using Storytelling!


Have a question about The Storytelling Non-Profit Master Class? 

Use the form below to send me your question.

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