TechSoup Canada’s “set it and forget it” approach to outsourcing story writing [case study]

by Marlene Oliveira | Mar 19, 2019 | Storytelling, Working with writers

What does it take to get the greatest possible value when you’re outsourcing content creation? With years of experience on both the client and supplier side, I believe that it comes down to two things: being organized and providing clear direction. It’s about knowing...

14 tips to help you unearth your nonprofit’s stories

by Marlene Oliveira | Oct 16, 2018 | Storytelling

Do you have a hard time finding your organization’s stories? A couple of weeks ago, I put out a call for story-finding tips, and today I’m following up with the responses I received. What I learned: communicators who successfully unearth their nonprofit’s...

Boosting annual report impact with stories [case study]

by Marlene Oliveira | Aug 28, 2018 | Storytelling, Working with writers

How can you communicate impact when you’re in the early stages of a long-term, ambitious plan? What information can you provide in an annual report when you are still laying the foundation for that plan? I had this conversation earlier this year with my clients at...

Using research to make a case for storytelling: three studies

by Marlene Oliveira | Aug 14, 2018 | Storytelling

Have you been advocating for more resources to support storytelling at your nonprofit organization? Would you like to add evidence from a few research studies to your case? A few months ago, I read the Storytelling Edge: How to Transform Your Business, Stop Screaming...

Writing stories for a community foundation [case study]

by Marlene Oliveira | Jul 31, 2018 | Storytelling

One of the core areas of focus in my business is story writing. I enjoy the work, and I learn something from every story I write. I also just like helping nonprofit communicators get their stories written – something I’ve been doing for one of my long-term...

How to keep track of the stories you’re writing [template project tracker]

by Marlene Oliveira | Jun 12, 2018 | Nonprofit copywriting how-to, Storytelling

If you’re writing a large volume of stories for your nonprofit organization, project management can feel almost as challenging as the creative process itself. You’ll have several elements and steps to track, such as: Who you’re featuring The key message or focus...