Key storytelling insights from the Nonprofit Storytellers Speakers event you can apply today

Three nonprofit professionals shared their insight and experience at our Nonprofit Storytellers – Speaker Event on May 17th in Des Moines.

After sharing their experience, strategies, tips, and insights on finding and sharing stories, we broke into small groups to discuss how to apply their insights to the nonprofits we serve. It was great to have a perspective from marketing, communications, and fundraising professionals that serve a human services agency, a professional association, and a medical university.

Panelists included:

·       Lauren Dixson, Senior Director of Development & Alumni Relations at Des Moines University 

·       Kayla Choate, Director of Marketing & Communications at YSS

·       Haley Bohlmann, Director of Communications at The Iowa State Bar Association

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Thanks Sarah Welch for sharing these key insights from the event!

·       Focus on benefits/impact instead of features.

·       People give to people – not a building or program. What’s the experience for people.

·       Find your focus on what you can educate the community on.

·       Write the story once and then use it for multiple purposes.

·       Tweak the story for different audiences.

·       Decide the purpose of your social media platforms and focus storytelling on that purpose.

·       People will read longer posts on social media.

·       On Facebook, put the link to the story in the comments, not in the post, to increase views.

·       Consider ambassador opportunities – partner with college athletes who have NIL agreements.

·       Hear from members/audience what they are interested in and provide stories based on that feedback.

·       Set up Google Alerts for your top donors; feature stories on them when they are in the news.

·       Build an internal pipeline of story ideas by being specific when asking for stories from team members. Explain what types of stories you are looking for and follow through when staff/partners submit ideas.

·       Stories build that emotional connection that is more memorable than numbers.

·       Readers want to see themselves reflected in stories.

·       Let the story drive what it’s meant to be – don’t overthink it. Some stories are meant to be short. 

·       Be observant and listen for stories.

·       Identify audience and goal and keep it simple.

·       Don’t share photos of minors’ faces and give options of using full name, first name, initials, or to change the name.

·       Ask for stories 1-3 years after someone receives services, so that they can reflect back and also consider if they want to share their difficult experiences. 

·       Set up regional Facebook groups to build networking if operating statewide.

·       Spend time contemplating strategy.

·       Tell stories based on a theme or a program instead of a specific person if there are concerns in featuring individuals.