Step 2: Campaign Story
Step 2 of 5 -- Tell Your Story
The story step is where you make the case for your campaign. A strong story is what turns a visitor into a donor. You will write two pieces of content here: a short appeal message and a detailed description. Both fields include Ask FeatsAI buttons that can generate suggestions to help you write.
Appeal Message
The Appeal is a short, powerful message that captures the essence of your campaign in one or two sentences. Think of it as the headline that grabs attention and makes someone want to learn more.
- This field is required.
- The appeal must be at least 20 characters long.
- The maximum length is 200 characters.
- A character counter below the field shows your progress.
Examples of effective appeal messages:
- "Help 200 students get the school supplies they need to succeed this year"
- "Our youth soccer team needs new equipment to compete at the state championship"
- "Support our community garden project and bring fresh produce to local families"
Your appeal should answer the question: "Why should I care?" Focus on the people who will benefit and the specific difference a donation will make. Emotional, specific appeals outperform generic ones.
Full Description
The Description is where you tell the full story behind your campaign. This is your opportunity to explain why this cause matters, how donations will be used, and what impact donors can expect.
- This field is required.
- The description must be at least 50 characters long.
- The maximum length is 2,000 characters.
- A character counter below the field shows your progress.
What to include in your description:
- The problem or need -- What challenge are you addressing? Who is affected?
- Your plan -- How will the funds be used? Be specific about what donations will pay for.
- The impact -- What will change as a result? How many people will benefit?
- Personal connection -- Share a story, anecdote, or example that brings the cause to life.
- Call to action -- End with a clear invitation to donate.
Example description:
Every fall, students at Lincoln Elementary arrive without the basic supplies they need to learn. Last year, 40% of our students could not afford notebooks, pencils, or backpacks. Teachers spent an average of $500 out of their own pockets to fill the gap.
This campaign will provide complete school supply kits for 200 students in grades K through 5. Each $25 donation covers one full kit including a backpack, notebooks, pencils, folders, and art supplies.
Your donation directly impacts a child's ability to participate fully in their education. Help us make sure every student starts the year ready to learn.
Ask FeatsAI -- AI-Powered Suggestions
Both the Appeal and Description fields include an Ask FeatsAI button that uses artificial intelligence to generate writing suggestions based on your campaign details. This is a helpful way to overcome writer's block or get fresh ideas for your messaging.
How It Works
- Write a starting draft -- FeatsAI needs some context to work with. Begin writing your appeal or description first.
- Click the "Ask FeatsAI" button next to the field you want help with.
- Review the suggestions -- A modal will appear with multiple AI-generated options.
- Select a suggestion -- Click on the one you like best. It will be placed into the field.
- Edit and personalize -- The suggestion is a starting point. Edit it to match your voice and add specific details that only you know.
Requirements for Using FeatsAI
FeatsAI needs some context about your campaign before it can generate useful suggestions. The following requirements apply:
For Appeal suggestions:
- Your campaign title must have at least 8 characters (from Step 1)
- Your appeal field must have at least 20 characters of initial text
For Description suggestions:
- Your campaign title must have at least 8 characters (from Step 1)
- Either your appeal must have at least 20 characters, or your description must have at least 30 characters of initial text
If these requirements are not met, FeatsAI will display a helpful message explaining what you need to add before it can assist.
FeatsAI generates suggestions based on your campaign title, category, campaign type, and whatever you have written so far. The more context you provide, the better the suggestions will be.
AI suggestions are a starting point, not finished copy. Always review and personalize the text before using it. Add specific details about your organization, the people involved, and the real-world impact of donations. Donors respond best to authentic, specific stories.
Tips for Writing a Compelling Story
The campaign wizard includes a built-in tips panel to help you write effectively. Here is a summary of the key principles:
- Start with the problem or need -- Open with what is at stake. Make the reader understand why this matters right now.
- Share personal stories or examples -- Specific, human stories connect emotionally far more than statistics alone.
- Explain specifically how donations will be used -- Donors want to know exactly where their money goes. "Each $50 provides one set of uniforms" is stronger than "Funds will support our program."
- Describe the impact and who will benefit -- Paint a picture of what success looks like. How many people will be helped? What will change?
- End with a clear call to action -- Tell the reader what to do next. "Donate today to help 50 students get the supplies they need" is direct and motivating.
Validation
Before you can proceed to Step 3, the following must be completed:
- Appeal must be filled in with at least 20 characters (max 200).
- Description must be filled in with at least 50 characters (max 2,000).
If either field is missing or too short, an error message appears below the field explaining what needs to be corrected.
What's Next?
After writing your story, click Continue to proceed to Step 3: Goals where you will configure your target amount, campaign dates, and donation settings.