In philanthropy, communicating impact isn’t just about numbers—it’s about sharing the human stories and values that drive change. Stakeholders engage most when they see the real difference their support makes. In my book, The Essential Fundraiser’s Handbook, I outline strategies for crafting transparent, compelling impact stories that go beyond metrics to foster genuine engagement. With the right approach, impact becomes something people feel—and want to be part of—creating deeper, lasting connections in philanthropy.

Philanthropy is more than just giving—if is about creating an impact. Here are a few strategies that i can think of: 1. Tell Stories, Not Just Statistics: Numbers show scale, but stories reveal humanity. Share real-life examples of those who've been positively affected by the work. 2. Show Progress, Not Perfection: Transparency matters. Openly sharing progress builds trust and gives people confidence that their support is making a real difference. 3. Highlight Collaborative Successes: Acknowledging partners and donors showcases the community effort behind the cause. 4. Connect the Cause to Core Values: Find alignment between stakeholders’ core values and the mission. Philanthropy thrives on genuine connections.

Transparency coupled with personalized communication builds trust. I’d first recommend getting an inventory of your stakeholders preference/s. That means— understanding what they care about and how they prefer to communicate. For example, some stakeholders may care about community outcomes, financial accountability, or long-term sustainability. And when it comes to communication, some stakeholders may want detailed reports, or milestone check-ins, or video visuals etc. Understanding your stakeholders interests and preferences allows you to not only tailor your communication, but also allows you to set the proper expectations at the beginning of a project

To effectively communicate the impact of philanthropy, share compelling stories that illustrate tangible outcomes, supported by data-driven results. Highlight how stakeholders' contributions are pivotal in achieving lasting change, aligning these efforts with their values and strategic goals to foster meaningful engagement and commitment.

Philanthropy fosters a sense of community, provides for the social good, encourages volunteerism and civic engagement and addresses community needs. This can be demonstrated through outcomes (not merely outputs) which showcase how community needs have been addresses as well as telling stories, including visuals. Stories can also include testimonials which share their own personal joy of giving and the impact the giving has made in the community or society. The most effective philanthropy engages all the sectors and multiple disciplines and appealing to values and perspectives also helps enhance understanding of all that philanthropy provides for our communities and society.