Fundraising Presentation [How to Create One & Pitch it Right]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- Dec 11, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 16, 2025
A few weeks ago, our client Alex asked us,
“Why do people struggle to raise funds even when their idea or cause is strong?”
Our Creative Director gave an answer:
“Because they build fundraising presentations for their ego and not in line with what the audience wants to hear.”
As a presentation design agency, we see this all the time. Whether you are a startup founder pitching to investors, a non-profit asking for donations, or a team applying for grants, many people focus on showing off their achievements, their ideas, or their cleverness instead of crafting a presentation that speaks to the audience.
In this blog, we’ll cover how to create a fundraising presentation using storytelling principles that make your audience take you seriously and trust your vision.
In case you didn't know, we specialize in only one thing: making presentations. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
Before we dive deep, let's clear a confusion...
What Do We Mean by a Fundraising Presentation?
When we say fundraising presentation, we’re using it as an umbrella term for any presentation designed to raise funds. This includes startup pitch decks for investors, non-profit decks for donations, grant pitch decks, crowdfunding presentations, etc. While the audiences or funding sources may differ, the principles of storytelling and structuring your message effectively remain the same across all types of fundraising decks.
4 Storytelling Principles We Find in Winning Fundraising Decks
After going through countless fundraising decks, one thing is clear. Most people think they’re telling a story, but they’re really just listing facts. The decks that win don’t just deliver information, they force the audience to care.
Here’s what we find in decks that actually work:
1. They make the audience feel the pain
We see founders and organizations spend too much time on their brilliance. Winning decks start with something the audience actually feels. Not abstract problems, but moments that hit emotionally. You want the audience to squirm a little and say, “I see why this matters.”
2. They stop showing off
One thing we notice over and over is that ego kills decks. The slides that shine don’t brag about awards, patents, or how amazing the team is. They’re quiet, focused, and always about what the audience cares about.
3. They give a map, not a pitch
Instead of tossing out solutions like bullets, strong decks draw a clear line from problem to solution. They make it obvious what supporting you will accomplish. If someone leaves your deck thinking, “Wait, so what do I do?” it has already failed.
4. They use humans, not charts
Numbers are necessary, but decks that rely solely on charts and metrics feel cold. The ones we see win use tiny stories, little examples, or one vivid scenario that turns abstract ideas into something you can actually picture.
Do this right, and your deck stops being a boring slideshow and becomes a story the audience actually wants to follow.
So, How Do You Craft Your Fundraising Presentation as a Story?
Start With the Narrative Framework
We use a problem-solution-impact framework for almost every type of fundraising deck, whether it’s a startup pitching VCs, a non-profit asking for donations, or a grant proposal.
Here’s how it works:
The Problem: Begin with a problem the audience can feel. For a startup, this might be a story about a frustrated user trying to solve an everyday problem. For a non-profit, it could be a short narrative about someone affected by the cause you address.
For example, if you’re pitching a clean water initiative, you might open with a brief story of a child walking miles each day to fetch water. Numbers can support this, but they should never be the main hook. The audience needs to feel the pain first.
The Solution: Introduce your solution as a natural next step, not a list of features. Use a mini-story or example.
For instance, you might show how your app saved one user two hours a day, or how your program provided clean water to a village and reduced illness. This turns abstract solutions into tangible outcomes.
Impact / Proof: People believe stories more than charts. Use a combination of metrics and human examples. If your non-profit has helped 500 families, show a quote or photo from one family to make the number real. If a startup has grown 200% in six months, pair it with a short customer story showing the real-life impact.
The Ask: End with a clear, actionable request. Don’t hide the numbers or leave ambiguity. Whether it’s $50,000 for a project, seed funding for a startup, or volunteers for a campaign, tell them exactly what you need and why it matters.
Writing Your Deck
A deck should be scenes, not slides. Each slide moves the story forward. Think of slide titles as mini-headlines that tell the story if someone only skimmed the deck. Keep text minimal. Visuals should illustrate, not decorate.
Example:
Bad Slide: “Our platform uses advanced algorithms to optimize user workflow, resulting in time savings.”
Good Slide: “Jane saved 10 hours a week using our platform.” (With a simple visual of Jane’s workflow.)
The goal is clarity. Avoid jargon, avoid long paragraphs, and avoid anything that doesn’t make the audience say, “I get it, and it matters.”
Editing and Refining
Editing separates decks that raise money from decks that collect dust. Here’s how we approach it:
Cut ego-driven slides: Awards, patents, and personal achievements rarely convince unless they directly support credibility.
Check the flow: Does each slide answer the silent question: “Why should I care?”
Test readability: Read it aloud. If it sounds stiff or confusing, it will be worse in front of investors or donors.
Peer test: Give the deck to someone unfamiliar with your work. If they can’t summarize the story in a few sentences, refine it.
Example: A founder we worked with had 35 slides about their team’s capabilities, experience & awards. After cutting ego-driven content and focusing on customer impact, the deck shrank to 15 slides, and the founder closed their first $850k in funding shortly after.
Slide Count and Structure
Email / Sending Decks: 10–15 slides. Every slide should be understandable without your commentary.
Live Presentation Decks: 12–20 slides. Use slides as cues; speak to the details.
Suggested Flow:
Cover / Title
Hook / Opening Story
Problem (1–2 slides)
Landscape / Context (1–2 slides)
Your Solution (2–3 slides)
How It Works / Execution (1–2 slides)
Impact / Proof (2–3 slides)
Funding / Resources Needed (1–2 slides)
Team / Credibility (1 slide)
The Ask / Next Steps
Writing for Sending vs. Presenting
Sending Decks:
Self-contained slides
Concise copy with context included
Extra notes for definitions, metrics, or references
Live Decks:
Short headlines and visuals; the slides guide the audience
Speak to the details instead of writing everything on slides
Include examples, anecdotes, and mini stories verbally
Copywriting Style
Conversational: Talk to one person. Avoid corporate jargon.
Show outcomes: Highlight results, not processes. “Saved $100k and reduced wait times by 50%” beats “Implemented a new operational system.”
Human stories: Numbers matter, but humans relate to humans. Mini case studies or testimonials bring your impact to life.
Example: Instead of a slide saying, “Our program served 500 people”, include a quote: “I can now go to school instead of walking 5 miles for water,” says Amina, 10.
Testing and Feedback
Present your deck to someone outside your field. If they can’t summarize the story quickly, it’s too complex.
Pay attention to flow, clarity, and emotional engagement.
Cut anything that doesn’t reinforce why your audience should care and act.
Designing Your Fundraising Deck with the Goal of Making an Impact
People don’t just read slides; they experience them. How you design visuals can influence emotion, focus, and ultimately, the decision to support your cause. Understanding visual psychology is as important as your narrative.
Color and Emotion
Colors trigger emotions subconsciously.
Blue conveys trust and reliability; ideal for financial pitches or grants. Red and orange create urgency and excitement, perfect for calls to action. Green signals growth, health, and sustainability, making it ideal for non-profits and environmental initiatives.
Use colors deliberately to highlight key points or guide attention, but avoid overloading slides. Too many competing colors confuse the audience and dilute impact.
Imagery That Connects
Images are more than decoration; they tell your story instantly. A single, well-chosen photograph can communicate emotion far faster than a paragraph of text.
For example, instead of a slide showing statistics about clean water access, show a photo of a child drinking safe water. Human-centric images make your audience feel the problem and solution.
Icons and Symbols
Icons simplify complex ideas, guide attention, and break up text. Use them sparingly and consistently. A well-placed icon can replace a bullet point or highlight a key metric.
Avoid decorative icons that don’t serve a clear purpose, they distract more than they help.
Layout and Hierarchy
Our brains scan slides in patterns. Headlines and visuals draw attention first, body text second. Use hierarchy intentionally: larger fonts for key points, contrast to separate sections, and spacing to avoid clutter.
White space isn’t empty; it’s a tool to focus attention and make your message digestible.
Charts and Data Visualization
Graphs should tell a story instantly. Use bar charts to compare, line charts to show trends, and pie charts sparingly. Avoid overcomplicating.
Highlight the insight visually: color, size, and placement can make the data obvious without a narrator.
Designing a fundraising deck with visual psychology in mind is about empathy and persuasion.
5 Tricks You Can Use While Pitching for Fundraising
1. Lead With a Micro-Story
Start your pitch with a 20–30 second story that captures the problem and human impact. People remember stories, not bullet points.
For example, a non-profit founder might open with, “Last year, I met Maria, a 10-year-old walking miles every day for clean water. Today, thanks to our program, she goes to school.” This immediately makes the problem and solution tangible.
2. Use the Pause Effect
Don’t rush through slides. Strategic pauses make your points land. After sharing a surprising fact or impact story, pause and let it sink in. Silence creates attention, it makes the audience lean in without you asking them to.
3. Layer Your Evidence
Combine numbers, visuals, and human examples. Instead of saying, “We served 500 families,” show a photo of one family and overlay a simple chart. This reinforces credibility while keeping the story human. People remember a single example paired with data better than data alone.
4. Mirror the Audience
Pay attention to reactions. Adjust your tone, pacing, or emphasis based on engagement. Nod to their concerns proactively.
For instance, if investors look puzzled at a slide about scalability, pause and address it before moving on. Mirroring shows empathy and builds trust.
5. Close With a Clear, Emotional Ask
End your pitch by connecting the problem, solution, and impact to the audience’s action. Don’t just say, “We need $50,000.” Say, “With your support, 1,000 children like Maria can attend school this year. Here’s how your investment makes it possible.” Combine clarity, specificity, and emotion.
Usual Questions We Get About Fundraising Presentations
What is your process when working with clients on a fundraising deck?
We treat every fundraising deck as a blank canvas. No two projects are the same, so we don’t rely on templates or cookie-cutter solutions. Once we take on a project, we assess your goals, audience, and story potential before suggesting the best path forward.
Typically, the process involves a mix of questionnaires, collaborative writing, reviewing, and iterative feedback. We guide the structure, copy, and visuals, but the exact steps are tailored to your unique needs, ensuring the final deck is both strategic and authentic.
Which parts of the presentation do you help with?
We help with building decks entirely from scratch. That includes shaping the narrative style, structuring the story, designing slides, and even adding animations or transitions if you prefer.
You can rely 100% on us to guide every aspect. Whether it’s crafting the copy, designing visuals, or ensuring the flow connects with your audience, we handle it all so your deck is persuasive, cohesive, and ready to make an impact.
Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.
How To Get Started?
If you want to hire us for your presentation design project, the process is extremely easy.
Just click on the "Start a Project" button on our website, calculate the price, make payment, and we'll take it from there.