This year is moving right along. We’re already in Fall and the start of October – my favorite month. In addition to enjoying the fall colors and cool weather, I’ve been buckling down on work like many of you. Later this week I’ll be at Barnard College providing a workshop to their alumnae volunteers on storytelling and fundraising. If you have an event or training that you’d like me to speak at, let’s connect!
I hope you enjoy this month’s Resource Round Up.
Favorite Books
Blue Ocean Strategy – I’ve seen this book on numerous must-read lists and after reading it last month, I absolutely see why. This is a business book that talks about how organizations can stand out in crowded market places. While the majority of the cases studies focus on businesses, they do talk about how this is applicable to non-profits. There are so many options out there for donors and this book gives you the tools to strategically think about how to position and marketing your organization to create what’s called a “blue ocean” for yourself.
The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit – I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman’s new book and can’t recommend it enough. It deals with one of the toughest issues that we are facing in the sector – burnout. They talk about how and why this is an epidemic in the sector while providing a ton of great advice on self-care. You can read my full review here.
Stories I’ve Enjoyed
I was recently introduced to a New Zealand-based non-profit called Human Postcards. They create an on-going video series of 60-second clips that act as a postcard of someone’s life. I watched nearly 20 of their videos all in one go. They are inspiring, captivating, and outstanding examples of storytelling. I particularly enjoyed this one called: IÑAKI “The most beautiful thing that happened to my life”
Have you heard of Special Books by Special Kids? Someone recently told me about their social media presence, in particular, their Facebook page. They do a wonderful job telling stories through pictures and videos that engage their audience. This might give you some fresh inspiration for your organization’s social media presence.
The Charity: Water September Campaign may be over, but the amazing film they created for the landing page is still available to view. If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to carve out some time to watch it. It is a great example of storytelling for an organization’s history and purpose. It also leaves viewers with an inspired vision for the future that connects to the campaign.
Interviews & Other Resources
Blackbaud just released their 2016 Big Ideas book in time for their conference at the end of the month. Check out my article on page 6!
Telling Your Story to the Right Audience – I joined Beth on the Driving Participation podcast to talk about storytelling, audience analysis and what non-profits can do to improve their storytelling results.
PS – My book, The Storytelling Non-Profit, is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Place an order for 20 or more books and you’ll receive a 20% discount. This is perfect for AFP Chapters, Associations, Mastermind groups, and more. Contact me if you’d like more information about bulk orders.
