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What if one of the most powerful fundraising tools didn’t come from the nonprofit world at all?

In this episode of The Million Dollar Nonprofit, Tom Kelly reveals how the storytelling framework used by Pixar Animation Studios — the creative force behind films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Up — can transform the way nonprofits connect with donors.

The secret behind Pixar’s storytelling success isn’t just creativity — it’s structure. Their stories consistently follow a simple six-part framework that builds emotional connection and keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end.

Tom explains why many nonprofits struggle with storytelling. Instead of telling human-centered stories, they often default to reports: statistics, program descriptions, and organizational summaries. While informative, these approaches fail to create the emotional connection that inspires people to give.

You’ll learn how to use Pixar’s six-step storytelling structure — Once upon a time… Every day… Until one day… Because of that… Because of that… Until finally… — to craft compelling, donor-focused narratives that highlight real people and real transformation.

Through a clear nonprofit example, Tom shows how shifting from abstract data to a single human story can make your message more memorable and impactful. He also emphasizes a critical mindset shift: your nonprofit is not the hero of the story — the person you serve is. The donor becomes the guide who helps create change.

This episode also explores how AI tools can help convert program descriptions into emotionally engaging stories, and how CRM systems and fundraising platforms can help track which stories resonate most with your audience.

If you want donors to feel connected, inspired, and motivated to act, this episode will show you how to turn your mission into stories that truly move people.