There are many ways to understand storytelling. Typically in the non-profit context, we discuss stories in terms of the individual stories that we well. But the other way we can think about storytelling is in the big picture sense.
If you think about everything that you send to donors over the course of a year, what is the collective story that donors see?
Sometimes the best way to ascertain what this story is is to gather up everything that you sent to donors in 2015. Everything. Then find a big wall, table or space, and layout all of the materials. Next, your job is to read through everything, make notes about what the key messages are, and where there are divergences. This process is pretty similar to a communications audit, but not as in depth.
After you have read and looked at everything, what story are you taking away from all of this material? What’s your impression of the organization? What do people remember most?
You might be reviewing the 2015 material, but what I want you to do is to think about how you could intentionally be the narrator of a story in 2016.
Your story does not have to come together haphazardly. You can strategical author the story by deciding what story you want to convey this year.
To get you started, think about these questions:
- What is the one thing you want people to know about your organization?
- What is the one thing you want people to remember about your organization?
- What would you have to tell them consistently in order to know or remember that information?
Ready for more storytelling tips for 2016?
Join me on January 21 for a FREE Webinar!
How to Tell Great Stories in 2016
January 21, 2016 at 1 pm Pacific/ 3 pm Central/ 4 pm Eastern
Register Now for this Free Webinar
[author_image timthumb=’on’]https://thestorytellingnonprofit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/VanessaChase15Apr2014-1-3198817584-O.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Vanessa Chase Lockshin is the President of The Storytelling Non-Profit. Vanessa is a seasoned fundraiser who has raised over $10 million for charitable causes. Vanessa’s specialty is helping organizations improve donor communications and stewardship through storytelling. She’s a frequent speaker at non-profit conferences and a sought-after teacher. [/author_info] [/author]
