Cultivate your organization’s most powerful stories

Transform your communications from ordinary to extraordinary through the art and science of StoryGardening

5 steps of StoryGardening

The Story Gardening process:

From seed to harvest

Every thriving garden begins with understanding the soil, selecting the right seeds, and creating optimal conditions for growth.

Your organization's stories follow the same natural cycle.

Through my proven 5-step StoryGardening method, we'll transform how your organization communicates—moving from transactional messages to transformational stories that deeply connect with your audience.

Green arrow pointing down and to the left.

  • Our journey begins with a thorough assessment of your organization's current storytelling environment. Like a skilled gardener testing the soil before planting, we'll have an open, honest discovery session to understand your communication challenges, identify storytelling barriers, and prepare the ground for authentic narratives to take root.

  • Next, we'll identify and gather the story seeds already present in your organization. Together, we'll connect with your "story-holders"—staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and donors—to begin collecting these valuable seeds through thoughtfully designed emails, scripts and forms.

  • With seeds collected, we'll determine which ones are ready to be nurtured into full-blown stories. Through empathetic, deeply personal video interviews designed to draw out rich content, we'll help your stories develop depth, emotion, and impact.

  • When your stories have matured, it's time for harvest. I'll dig deep into your interviews to identify compelling direct quotes, highlight the most powerful sections, and recommend the ideal communications channels for each story—whether that's appeals, newsletters, social media, or other formats.

  • A thriving garden requires ongoing care. I'll outline a detailed maintenance process tailored to your organization, ensuring you can continue to grow your StoryGarden long after our work together ends. This sustainable approach means your storytelling will flourish season after season.

Choose the StoryGardening Package that is right for you:

Green gloves

The Spruce Up

Perfect for organizations with an established storytelling foundation

You understand the importance of storytelling but need help refining your approach. Your garden has good bones, but could use some expert attention to truly flourish.

This package includes:

  • Up to 5 in-depth interviews with people of your choosing

  • Detailed transcripts with important story elements highlighted

  • Pull quotes and potential story uses noted

  • Option to add on appeal writing

$3,000

or $1,200/month for 3 months

Purple flowers in pot illustration

The Planting

Ideal for organizations beginning their storytelling journey

Your soil may be hard and dry, and you regularly tell stories from the same perspective. You need help identifying new story angles and beginning the process of gathering content.

This package includes everything in the Spruce Up package, plus:

  • 1 virtual workshop to identify multiple story perspectives for your organization

  • 1 virtual workshop on the importance of storytelling and how to cultivate your inner soil of empathy and connection

  • Worksheet and written process for sowing and gathering story seeds

  • Up to 5 additional interviews

  • Option to add on appeal writing

$6,000

or $1,200/month for 6 months

Wildflowers illustration

The Overhaul

Comprehensive support for organizations ready to transform their storytelling

You need it all! This VIP experience provides comprehensive, customized support through every step of the StoryGardening process.

This package includes everything in both the Spruce Up and Planting packages, plus:

  • Fully customized and detailed processes tailored to your organization to:

  • Create your stories

  • Maintain your stories

  • Continue to grow your StoryGarden

  • Connection with a data/systems partner for a fully customized maintenance solution

  • Support with writing copy for appeals or communications of your choosing (direct mail, emails, newsletters, gratitude reports, case for support)

$10,000

or $1,200/month for 12 months

  • "Exceeded my expectations!"

    “I appreciated having Rachel there to walk me and my client through the story-gathering process.

    She offered great suggestions on the type of people to talk to — some we might not have thought of on our own. She conducted 10 interviews and provided written, highlighted transcripts of each conversation.

    She then took all of the content and created a Case for Support document that exceeded my expectations for what was even possible!”

    – Karen Mitchell, Fundraising consultant

  • "Brought our donors' stories to life"

    “Rachel did a wonderful job connecting with our donors in such a warm, genuine way.

    She really listened, made the whole process easy and enjoyable, and brought our donors’ stories to life in a way that really highlighted our mission.”

    - Brie Taylor, Planned Giving Manager, HIAS Foundation

  • "Kind and Talented!"

    “Rachel is the most kind and talented fundraising writer I have ever met! She has done a wonderful job writing in a charming and appreciative voice to Casey House supporters over the years.”

    - Alanna Scott, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, Casey House

Your organization already contains the seeds of powerful stories waiting to be discovered. Let's begin the rewarding process of cultivating these narratives into communications that truly connect with your audience.

Ready to start growing?