How do you showcase your non-profit's impact through storytelling?

1 Identify your audience

Before you start writing, think about who you want to reach with your story. What are their needs, interests, and motivations? How do they relate to your non-profit's mission and vision? What do you want them to feel, think, or do after reading your story? Knowing your audience will help you tailor your message, tone, and style to resonate with them.

2 Choose a relevant theme

A theme is the central idea or message that you want to convey with your story. It should reflect your non-profit's values, goals, and impact. For example, if your non-profit works on education, your theme could be empowerment, opportunity, or transformation. A theme can help you structure your story, connect with your audience, and reinforce your brand identity.

3 Focus on a specific impact

One of the most common mistakes in non-profit storytelling is trying to cover too much information or data. This can make your story confusing, boring, or overwhelming. Instead, focus on a specific impact that your non-profit has made or is making. This could be a success story of a beneficiary, a testimonial of a donor, or a case study of a project. A specific impact can help you illustrate your non-profit's value, demonstrate your results, and evoke emotions.

4 Use the classic story arc

A story arc is the sequence of events that make up a story. It usually consists of four elements: exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution. The exposition introduces the characters, setting, and background of the story. The conflict presents the problem or challenge that the characters face. The climax is the turning point or the peak of the action. The resolution is the outcome or the lesson learned from the story. Using the classic story arc can help you create a clear, engaging, and satisfying story.

5 Include sensory details

Sensory details are words or phrases that appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. They can help you bring your story to life, create vivid images, and stimulate emotions. For example, instead of saying "She was happy", you could say "She smiled brightly and hugged her teacher". Sensory details can help you show, not tell, your non-profit's impact.

6 End with a call to action

A call to action is a statement that urges your audience to take a specific action after reading your story. It could be to donate, volunteer, share, sign up, or learn more. A call to action can help you motivate your audience, increase your engagement, and measure your effectiveness. Make sure your call to action is clear, relevant, and easy to follow.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?