What are the latest trends in nonprofit branding and storytelling?

Being authentic sometimes means showing how the economic actions of philanthropy and donors create harm for humans and the environment that requires social impact initiatives.

I think one of the best ways of storytelling in nonprofits in 2023 with all of the changes, is by allowing your beneficiaries to tell the story for you When was the last time you filmed someone you've helped telling the story of your help, in a powerful, raw and beautiful way?

@Tim Lockie I think the most important part of STORYTELLING is the original NIKE mantra, "...JUST DO IT..." The more stories we tell, the more stories we have to tell

In the medical sector, and in our case, liver disease, patients who have shared their journey struggles have really made a difference in the lives of other patients, and as impactful with Physicians by giving them insights into their patients and how a ‘tailored approach’ to care can make all the difference.

Emerging nonprofit branding/storytelling today works hard to have: 1) No trace of triumphalism. Prior generations may have tolerated "We alone will save the whole world or a good junk of it--with your gift of $25." Emerging generations will throw a red card for that. Instead, practice common cause. Drop the lone ranger act. Partner with complimentary organizations. Tell how that story works. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. 2) Believable presence. Emerging donors want authentic stories of real volunteers on mission. So skip the bogus pic of your CEO "on the frontline" wearing clothes they don't even own. Nothing says presence like the story of a real volunteer or staffer who actually made sacrifices to deliver your organization's mission.

For so long this has been a crucial missing piece. We can't just say "we are inclusive now" and expect it to be so. Effort must be made to actively seek out people and opportunities and more fully enrich and welcome diversity with intention into the groups

In my experience, Diversity and Inclusion are often under-explored in non-profit organizations, even because white cisgender and straight people lead them. NGOs must learn how to integrate diverse people into their roles, especially leadership, in order to sound genuine in their attempt to be showcased as a diverse brand. In my experience, I've seen NGOs with few people from the communities they attend in leadership roles, which is unacceptable nowadays. A good start is changing the mindset, and including in your programs strategies to form and bring talents from the communities you attend to your operation.

As a job seeker, one thing I have noticed is a huge disconnect between stated DEI values and the makeup of the organization. Although it is impossible to gauge real diversity through images, if your board is composed almost entirely of retired white men, or your staff is all under 30, you are not walking the talk. DEI is more than a values statement.

One thing I've learned at Global Greengrants Fund is NPOs and funders don't empower. They may amplify impact and voices, support, give resources, yet the grantees know the solutions that work best for them. They need to be decision-makers and in positions of power, not just at the table.

To promote inclusivity, in the Mage-OS Association, we offer purchasing power parity based on the ‘Big Mac Index‘ for individuals and non-multinational companies from a low-cost-of-living country.

When it comes to brand and storytelling, nonprofits must learn to think and act like digital media companies instead of traditional charities. This means building a solid brand foundation, messaging/positioning, and capacity to generate creative, authentic, scroll-stopping content to build awareness and loyal support for their mission. Digital channels are getting noisier by the day, so standing apart with quality communications that informs, inspires, and activates is crucial to the success of a modern nonprofit digital strategy.

Setting up a detailed and intriguing social media calendar with information of what, where, and why is a key factor in being able to continuously get the message across to prospective donors. Social media is playing a key role in fundraising and it’s only going to bet more prevalent.

In the pandemic nonprofits embed part of their culture in digital tools when they pivoted to remote working tools like slack and zoom. So no access and capacity to use tools that host their culture are vital to inclusion. If someone doesn't know how to mute, share their screen, or access a meeting room, they are locked out of the culture.

Without digital and social media, we will just be winking a lady in the dark. It has certainly brought us into the world scopes for global and interventions.

Digital and social media are how people communicate these days. Adapt to this or get left behind. However, this does not mean totally abandoning the "traditional" ways of doing things. There are still people out there, like elderly people, who will not hear messaging put out this way, and they are important as well.

Increasingly, some nonprofit leaders are beginning to realize two essential truths: 1) that their organizational structure is in some fundamental ways intentionally designed (through legislation) to keep them from building political and economic power sufficient to address the root of the symptoms they are funded to address. 2) The experience of needing to compete with other nonprofits and stakeholders for not-enough-funding to do the real work is created and and maintained by trends within philanthropy designed to more or less sustain the status quo. More nonprofits are recognizing the need to “manage up” to their funders & tell the truth, while working collaboratively with their clients & “competitors” to grow the pie & build power.

I have found as an arts nonprofit that collaboration is key to building a larger audience base and a more diverse donor base. And it creates some powerful performances on stage!

Some non-profits do not value collaboration. They are afraid of competition. The fear of competition should be replaced by the specialization and making referrals to other needed services. Leveraging your uniqueness and other people's resources has a big room to grow.

As membership in faith communities decreases, there are fewer volunteers available in many nonprofit organizations. Many ecumenical and interfaith founded organizations need to seek new ways of accomplishing their missions. Some may seek grants, while others may share resources/costs with others, and still others may attempt to survive on investments. All of these are valid strategies for ensuring resources for any organization's mission, and diverse strategies provide greater stability. Lifting up all of these kinds of organizational affiations(in media, website, promotional materials, etc.), both gives credit to those who choose to partner with us, and increases trust through transparency of affiliations.

Take advantage of influencer partnerships: Micro-Influencers: Partnering with local or niche influencers who the target audience trusts can be more effective and affordable than celebrity endorsements. Influencer Advocates: Influencers who genuinely resonate with the cause can provide more authentic endorsements.

Love to ensure that when I write I write the donor as the hero, not the sidekick. The donor is Batman not Robin. In fact in this analogy the charity is Robin supporting their Batmans to achieve impact, change lives, and so much more.

Cultivating purpose and passion in nonprofits inspires teams, donors, and stakeholders to share a collective vision. Transparent communication about values, goals, and intended impact fosters a community dedicated to the greater good. These guiding principles influence every decision and action, enabling nonprofits to forge a path toward lasting, transformative change with a positive ripple effect beyond immediate initiatives.

Branding needs to be about what the organization is and what it strives to be. Thus, a good brand reflects both the reality of the organization and its vision. The process ought not be about bringing in graphics experts who will come up with a great logo (a logo is not a brand). It ought to be a deep look into all stakeholders' understanding of what is and what ought to be regarding the organization.

Branding and storytelling should include the “why” we are asking someone to contribute to the nonprofit. I like to provide quotes or stories from someone that’s experienced our work and how it affected them, how it helped them better understand why we are doing the work.

I have always had a passion for helping kids. I allow this to show in my communications with people, and has allowed me great success. I also acknowledge that others' passions may not be the same as mine, and I always make it clear that I respect that. If someone tells me they listened to what I said, but their passion is taking them down a different road, I respect that. They are someone I want to be friends with. I love it when people follow their passion.

Showcase stories more than numbers. To have several impacted people is excellent, but what was the journey of your beneficiary? Where did they start, and where are they now after going through your programs? By that, I mean more than collecting testimonials about the program or project's greatness. To really share their journeys and how long they overcame the challenges you tried to address. Use videos, reels, and podcasts to tell those stories. Remember to try press releases to dig space in media.

After 45 years of sharing stories about nonprofits, lately I have come to understand: 1). Having three or four “stories of the one” (SOTO) life changed by your organization is crucial. 2). Being able to weave a very short story into an answer to a question helps clarify what your organization is all about. 3). Employees and volunteers are also stories unto themselves. Don’t just have stories about clients! Your organization changes the lives of clients, but also the lives of employees and volunteers. Learn their stories, tell their stories! 4). Having a well-crafted story about “what we will not be able to do without continued support and funding” is as important as your organization’s successes.

Key trends- 1)Use of technology and digital media to reach broader audience 2)Concern for ESG trends (environmental, social, and governance factors)-Sustainability, Impact Storytelling,

DEMAND VS EFFICIENCY The expectation of non profit leadership is to make important emphasis on their core goals and objectives regardless of this, one will not neglect the place of best practices that has been on demand within the organisation and outside their wall. The trend becomes potent by efficiency. The values that are demanding are the core strength of non profit and that is what puts them on the scale to effectively demonstrate efficiency. Thought leaders are commodity turned brand. That then express themselves through demand in the non profit tribes and makes things to work efficiently in the organisations.

To make a long story short, the latest trends in nonprofit branding and storytelling emphasize authenticity, inclusivity, digital innovation, audience-centricity, and the seamless integration of storytelling throughout an organization's marketing and engagement efforts. ntegrate storytelling with fundraising and marketing. It's crucial to strategically align your storytelling efforts with broader marketing and fundraising strategies to achieve measurable results, such as increased donations, volunteers, and brand awareness.