Nonprofit Storytelling Training in 3 Easy Steps

What is Nonprofit Storytelling?

Nonprofit storytelling is when an organization attempts to personalize their aims and causes through the means of a well-told story.

Storytelling is a useful tool to have under your belt if you want people to feel a connection with your organization and cause. It aims to draw people on the basis of emotion and creativity while creating an inspiring vision for what your organization stands form. If done correctly, it can motivate people to donate generously to your cause because they feel more invested in it.

Storytelling can be done in a number of formats, but the most effective are usually multimedia, visual platforms which are the most engaging mediums out of all of the options.

How to Ace Nonprofit Storytelling  

While it may seem simple, good storytelling can be incredibly complicated. Here are a few elements you should be sure to include when using storytelling.

Relatable Character(s)

Whether you are talking about an individual or a group of people, having relatable characters in your story makes it easier for people to connect with your organization and the people involved in it.

Make sure that the characters are fleshed out, not archetypes. The more human and more relatable you make them, the more impact you are likely to observe.

Obstacles

As an organization, you will no doubt face obstacles in the face of your mission. There’s no better way to portray problems such as poor education opportunities or high mortality rates than by creating and talking about the obstacles in your character’s path.

These obstacles will act as a villain to your central character. Not only is this going to be a more relatable way of talking about issues you are trying to tackle as an organization, but it will also have a more resounding effect if your viewers already connect to your characters.

A Solution  

This is the climax of your story – the opportunity for viewers to get involved. Show them how they can work together with your organization to overcome the obstacles that are stopping the growth of your characters.

A strong, well-placed call to action is the key to motivating people to make a donation. Remember, donors want to feel like they are making a difference by doing something good – the more you can highlight their role in your ‘story’, the higher the chances of them getting involved.

There’s no fixed format to how your storytelling needs to go. You can get as creative as you like! Whether you roll out a series of short videos with different characters or use your character as the main motif in your organization’s communication, the goal is to make your nonprofit and its goals resonate with your viewers.