You're struggling to showcase your non-profit's impact. How can you effectively engage stakeholders?

I would add that if these goals are being communicated to the public, use simple, relatable language. So many times goals and outcome are spoken about in high academic terms that most people really don’t know what your talking about and/or people can’t connect

Actually, what I have found helpful is engaging people effectively often involves a first-person narrative, known as the Human Interest Story (HIS), which blends personal storytelling with SMART objectives and adds depth through the narrator’s personality and body language. To maximize engagement, appeal to multiple senses, using community theatre and roadshows as examples. Mobilization should leverage influencers, mass media, and social gatherings. Strategic planning, including venue selection and avoiding event clashes, is crucial. Financial resources and careful management, along with consultations with local organizations, are essential for successful campaigns. The synthesis of these ideas and feedback should be written in a concept.

I think that clear and measurable goals are very important to the internal stakeholders in an organization. Metrics drive so many things these days. However, from those goals, develop several talking points that dovetail into storytelling opportunities that people can relate to. If your goal is a 10% reduction in accidents, post it internally so everyone knows. Tell internal stakeholders that this is what we want. Then find stories that directly relate to your stats to which people can relate. Stats are for the inside, stories are for the outside.

Storytelling is more effective than stats or talking about global systems change (even if that's what you are working towards). People relate to stories, preferably about how you have impacting one person or family. Ask your audience a question or their views to increase engagement and sharing. People love being invited to contribute their ideas, knowledge and stories of their own experiences.

Communicate, Communicate & Commmunicate!!!! Transparent narratives combined with visuals does the job. The objective of such stories is to educate and motivate contituents; to get connected with the non-profit's mission as well to showcase the success and challenges. In the world of generative AI, geniuine storytelling is now more crucial than ever. The storytelling does bring both qualitative and quantitative data; however the emotional connection can only be achieved by adding personal stories and narrating the impact it has made to self and others. Use of technology pays a vital role in sharing the stories, genuine stories......

This is our greatest strategy. People respond to storytelling. It's impossible to inspire change without reaching the hearts of your audience. Each speaking engagement I do is hard, but necessary to share our tragedy to inspire change. Don't hold back in your passion. Tell your story.

Visual evidence is a game-changer. It is true that picture is worth a thousand words, but only if you select the right picture. Make sure your picture has registration when it is seen. By registration, I mean, the picture invokes the emotional response you are seeking--happy, sad, hungry, supported or fun to name a few. Make sure your picture invokes the right thousand words. Infographics are great ways to convey important information quickly and in a visually appealing manner that is easily understood. And remember with visual evidence, white space is your friend. Don't overcrowd your slide, collateral or webpage. Whitespace is so important that it is worth repeating. Whitespace is your friend and helps keep people engaged.

An engaging video, featuring those impacted by the charity or including their feedback, is one of the most powerful tools you can employ. Whilst a well-planned, filmed, and edited piece can have the strength and longevity needed to showcase your story, even quality sound bites recorded on phones or tablets can prove inspiring.

Reporting back on impact is so important. Tell them how you are using their dollars. And use those exact words, “my goal is to always keep you well informed about how you are making a difference.” Invest in newsletters, impact reports, phone briefings, webinars and more!

SMEs can effectively utilize AI like Microsoft Copilot to visualize impact economically by automating data-related tasks, which streamlines processes and saves costs. AI’s ability to generate insightful reports and marketing materials reduces the need for specialized skills. Additionally, AI-driven data analytics can offer valuable strategic insights. Enhanced team collaboration and communication facilitated by AI lead to more efficient project execution. Moreover, the intuitive nature of AI tools can shorten the learning curve for new employees, further reducing training expenses. This strategic integration of AI empowers SMEs to innovate and grow, even in the face of economic and geographic challenges.