Life and Mission

Hosted by Kay Helm

Business Education Religion Spirituality ChristianityExplicit

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Episodes

106

Latest episode

Mar 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Storytelling and writing are essential skills for missionaries, ministry and nonprofit leaders. In fact, if you struggle to tell stories, you'll struggle to raise the funds you need. Kay Helm is a writer & editor with experience in missions and the business world. She founded Mission Writers in 2022 to help missionaries write fundraising appeals and powerful stories to share with supporters. In this podcast, she offers tips you can use today to improve your missions & nonprofit writing.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

March 25, 2026Episode 616 min

When? Time as a factor in your nonprofit storytelling

In this episode we explore the fifth part in our series on the building blocks of nonprofit storytelling—When. Learn why timing matters in your fundraising, from year-end campaigns to creating urgency with matching gifts, celebrating donor milestones, and telling powerful follow-up stories. Plus, practical steps to plan your storytelling calendar.Mentioned in this episode:Fully Funded Academy The Bible Project: Looking Back at 2025 and Ahead to 202610 Years and 500 Episodes: The Story of BibleProject PodcastCharity Water: HelenSend me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

March 10, 2026Episode 521 min

Why Do You Do What You Do? Sharing Your Purpose

Clarifying and sharing your “Why” builds trust, connects with supporters, and sets your mission apart. Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

February 24, 2026Episode 416 min

Where Are You Making a Difference?

Part of the Building Blocks of Storytelling Series.You've found Life and Mission in a series on the six building blocks of storytelling: Who, What, Where, Why, When, and How. So far, we’ve looked at WHO and WHAT.Today, we’re looking at WHERE. Where are you? Where do you do what you do?You can help donors feel the "atmosphere" of your location — bring them closer, let them see and hear and taste and smell. Let them feel the weight of the place, get some sense of the challenges (or joy) of working there.Sharing about WHERE you work helps provide the context that gives the rest of your story meaning. It’s an essential element in helping your donors “see” your work more clearly. Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

February 10, 2026Episode 324 min

What’s Your Story? Clarifying Your Nonprofit’s Message

Part of the Building Blocks of Storytelling Series We’re in the middle of our series on the six building blocks of storytelling: Who, What, Where, Why, When, and How. Today, we’re diving into WHAT. The “what” of your story can do so much more than just describe your work. In this episode, I’ll show you how your “whats” can help move people from surface-level giving to true, heart-level involvement with your cause. Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

January 27, 2026Episode 225 min

Who’s at the Heart of Your Mission?

Part of the Building Blocks of Storytelling series.In this episode, we dig into the “Who” of nonprofit storytelling—who you are, who you serve, and who your donor is. I’ll share why getting clear on these three characters builds trust, honors the people in your stories, and helps donors see themselves as true partners in your mission. When you get the WHO right, your writing stops feeling like a sales pitch and starts feeling like an invitation to a shared mission. Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

January 13, 2026Episode 120 min

Six Building Blocks of Storytelling

Today, and in the next few episodes, we’re going all the way back to the most basic building blocks of storytelling: who, what, where, why, when and how.Simply including these in your content isn’t enough. Over the next few episodes, we’ll discover how using these building blocks effectively can move you from just reporting dry facts to building a world your donor can step into.Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

January 13, 20260 min

Season 4 of Life and Mission

Whether you're a missionary, a nonprofit leader, a change maker of any kind, you know that a powerful story can open hearts for people to join you in your mission.In season 4 of the Life and Mission Podcast, we're looking at the building blocks of every persuasive story: who, what, where, why, when, and how. Sounds basic, But I'll offer a few twists that you might not have heard before. Grab your notebook and get ready to tell stories that build relationships and raise more for your mission! Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

February 8, 2024Episode 9813 min

Nonprofit Newsletter Notes

In this episode, I'm answering questions about nonprofit newsletters.How many newsletters should you send?How fancy do they need to be?What else can you do with those stories?Why send a print newsletter by mail when you can send email instead? One key thing you don't want to leave out.------------Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

December 7, 2023Episode 977 min

Tell Stories to Raise Funds

Storytelling is an essential skill for fundraisers. What do stories do?Stories help us connect. Compelling stories increase empathy.Stories reflect our values. Stories reveal truths. Stories help us see others in a new way.Stories give us context.Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!

November 7, 2023Episode 9610 min

Don't Stop Now! Do this to raise funds at year-end.

The time between Thanksgiving and December 31 is by far the biggest giving season of the year. People expect you to ask. If you don't, the assumption will likely be that you don't need their money.Here's what you need to do now.Send me your questionsSupport the showMission Writers is a library of resources to help missionaries and nonprofits raise funds through storytelling. I've been re-organizing the content in response to some of your comments and suggestions, and I'll have some great resources for you soon. Sign up for my emails so you'll know when it's ready!