This article was originally published in February 2020 and updated in March 2024. What does your nonprofit organization’s storytelling plan look like? Is it documented in a way that you can share with your colleagues? Does it only exist in your head? Do you have a...
The role of your nonprofit’s storytelling *process* in stakeholder relations
As a nonprofit communicator, you understand the importance of engaging stakeholders through storytelling. But have you considered that how you develop and publish stories can have a powerful impact on your relationships? After seeing a few too many...
Communicating your nonprofit’s brand narrative through storytelling
Do you know how to communicate your nonprofit’s brand narrative through storytelling? Are you leveraging your brand to determine which stories you should develop? In my posts about brand messaging platforms, key messages and using your brand to shape your content,...
Building your nonprofit’s communications fundamentals in the right order
Are you looking for a deliberate, structured approach to strengthening your organization’s marketing communications? Do you need to build or rebuild your nonprofit’s communications fundamentals? There are many reasons you might need to strengthen, improve or adjust...
Narrative research for nonprofit communicators: three reports from FrameWorks
How do narratives fit into your work as a nonprofit communicator? Lately, I’ve had narratives on my mind - primarily thinking about the fact that the term is used often, with very different meanings. While pondering (and researching) narratives late last month, I...
Questions you need to ask your colleagues to move from story lead to story development
Do you have colleagues who regularly bring you story ideas and leads? “We should tell more donor stories!” “I have a great volunteer for you to profile!” “I met someone at our event last night that you should feature in our newsletter!” Having colleagues who bring you...
TechSoup Canada’s “set it and forget it” approach to outsourcing story writing [case study]
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 what you need your content to achieve and setting up a few simple conditions for success. This describes my experience, working with TechSoup Canada.
14 tips to help you unearth your nonprofit’s stories
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. And further below, I’ve included a list of 14 actionable takeaways I’ve pulled from their submissions. Thank you, Katherine, Blair, Fiona, Anthony and Yasmine!
Boosting annual report impact with stories [case study]
Rather than “another thing to do”, story writing can and should boost the impact of your existing communications tactics. This case study showcases my work with Imagine Canada, using stories to bring the work described in their annual report to life.