• Online Training Store
  • Speaking
  • Buy the Book
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

The Storytelling Non-Profit

Non-profit storytelling that raises money & awareness

  • Home
  • Take the Course
  • Non-Profit Consulting
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Recap of the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference

Uncategorized

Recap of the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference

Last week I had the amazing pleasure of being at the Nonprofit Storytelling conference in Seattle. It was an amazing two days of learning from some of the top fundraising and communications experts including Tom Ahern, Jeff Brooks, Michelle Brinson and many more.

As a practitioner of storytelling, it was amazing to learn SO MUCH MORE during the conference. It really was an amazing and unique experience.  I have pages and pages to notes to go through, but I wanted to share a few key takeaways that I learned at the conference.

“There is something bigger than the story. Your offer.” Jeff Brooks

There is a tremendous amount of focus on the story that we want to tell, but all too often we end up missing the opportunity to make our donors a good offer. What is your offer? Your call to action!

“Use people of influence to talk about why they care about your mission.” Michelle Brinson

Did you know that Michelle writes a newsletter that raises $2m a year? So insane! She shared a number of her tips and tricks during the conference, and my favorite tip was to use stories of influencers. These stories are powerful because they allow donors to see themselves and their values in the stories.

“Tell the median story.” Andrew Means

Andrew is the best-kept secret in our sector. He is a data genius and a conversation with him will make you want to be a data genius, too! He shared that when non-profits tell outcomes stories, they have the tendency to tell the sensational, outlier story, which is not representative of the median client experience.

“Your first sentence breaks the silence of the page.” Tom Ahern

Tom shared so many gems that I could probably fill the next three months’ worth of blog posts with them! When he said this in particular though, I was reminded about just how important the first sentence of any fundraising or communications appeal is. Don’t waste the opportunity.

My session at the conference was about creating a culture of storytelling. I’m going to share a blog post on Friday with takeaways and big ideas from that session. Stay tuned!

Enjoyed this post? Don’t miss our weekly newsletter!

* indicates required



Share this:

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Pocket


About Vanessa Chase Lockshin

My name is Vanessa Chase Lockshin, and I want to empower you to tell your story. In my personal life, finding ways to tell my stories has been a transformational practice. In my fundraising life, I’ve helped hundreds of organizations tell their stories to engage and inspire their donors. To date, my work has helped non-profits raise over $10 million.

« What Skin Conditions Have Taught Me About Storytelling
Creating a Culture of Storytelling – Resources & More »

Hi there!

My name is Vanessa Chase Lockshin and I've helped non-profits raise over $10 million by telling stories that engage and inspire donors. I'm the author of The Storytelling Non-Profit: A practical guide to telling stories that raise money and awareness, and the creator of immersive online training programs that have trained thousands of non-profit professionals. Read More…

The Ultimate Class on Non-Profit Storytelling

Popular Posts

20 Plus Examples Of NonProfit Storytelling-2

20+ Examples of Non-Profit Storytelling that Raise Money

5 Charity Newsletters to Learn From

5 Charity Newsletters to Learn From

How to Tell Stories That Raise Money In December

How to Tell Stories that Raise Money in December

Year-End Fundraising Increase awareness of your campaign with stories

Year-End Fundraising: Increase awareness of your campaign with stories

How to Write Fundraising Emails

How to Write Fundraising Emails That Hook Readers

Popular Categories

  • Non-Profit Storytelling Tips
  • Fundraising Advice
  • Collecting Non-Profit Stories
  • Guest Experts
  • Personal Stories
  • Free Resource Friday
  • Writing Tips for Fundraisers

Copyright © 2023 · The Storytelling Non-Profit Developed by OnPurposeProjects

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in