Data is only half the story. This is because database data, website analytics and survey responses cannot give us the answers to other critical questions and the important stories behind those answers. We desperately need to know the other half of the story. MORE
It’s time to tell stories. This week, Vanessa Chase hosted a webinar all about the power of YOUR story and how to use it to connect with and engage your donors. The Power of Story to Connect with and Retain Donors from Blackbaud. That’s the story that inspires action. MORE
While most major gifts folks would probably tell you that nothing could replace the value of an in-person visit or phone call, the real magic of those activities comes for the opportunity to tell the donor a story. A story about a need, a story about someone who has been helped, etc. MORE
Stories provide great content pieces for your organization to report backs to donors. Stories perfectly illustrate impact in action. Then, compile those pictures into a Facebook album with captions that help tell the story. MORE
According to the blog justgiving.com there are 5 key motivators for giving: to support a particular organization, because we are inspired by other’s stories, to support a cause, to feel good, and. Working with arts organizations there are often concern that your constituent stories aren’t as impactful. We are changing the world and there are stories to be told. Our job is to get those people, those lives, those schools and communities to want to tell our stories. MORE
Your numerical data can tell stories , but can stories be data that leads to continuous improvement? I shared this on Twitter and the conversation brought out some interesting points that I curated in “Storify,” a story telling tool. (I By Beth Kanter, Beth's Blog. MORE
Your numerical data can tell stories , but can stories be data that leads to continuous improvement? Or as @orgnet says, “Turning data into stories is the real trick.&#. Your numerical data can tell stories, but can stories be data that leads to continuous improvement? MORE
Instead, tell the story your audience needs to hear to capture attention and generate engagement. Do you want to improve your association’s brand story? Get at member’s feelings, outcomes and emotions and you can craft a great association brand story. Feelings are your brand. MORE
Instagram Stories create an extra layer of visibility for your nonprofit – whenever you want that visibility. Like Snapchat, Instagram Stories last for 24 hours. And like Snapchat, stories are told in a series of pictures and videos. MORE
And in an age of social media, how can we be sure that when people are talking about our nonprofit that they’re telling our story? Telling stories is integral to being human; the science is showing that it’s actually part of our hardwiring. We’re the only species that tells stories. The next time you’re at a crowded event or at a lecture, pay attention to what happens when the speaker says, “Now let me tell you a story.” 5 Buckets of Stories. MORE
Although many organizations are telling their stories these days, there still seems to be something missing from their stories. What’s missing is what makes a story truly great – empathy. Yet, all too often we are missing this opportunity with our stories. MORE
And by asking those questions and looking through the outcomes lens for all of our initiatives, our results story began to demonstrate real impact. Take a look at the story for the same program, now with a new results focus: How do you change your story and focus on results? MORE
Storytelling is a constant drumbeat that resonates throughout the nonprofit community, but increasingly, stories are getting hard to tell. Not so much with good stories, which are a welcome and inspiring; mostly, it's the difficult tales of struggle, desperation, injustice, and urgency that are the most complicated to convey - but the need has never been so great. What happens when stories go untold? Let me explain what I mean by “difficult stories.” MORE
Medium offers a simple, compelling way to share your stories. Because telling your story up close and personal is key. MORE
I also reminded that we don’t tell enough stories when communicating and marketing to our supporters. Andy shared that Peter told Wendy he couldn’t grow up because he didn’t know any more stories. Wow… even Peter Pan knew the importance of stories. MORE
I go to places where there’s hardship and conflict and find stories of hope, change, and transformation. Q: How do you define story? How do you use your images to share stories? To me, story is a first-person account—a true, real testimony that I have the privilege of sharing. It’s a very pure form of influence, sharing someone’s story. Images are a powerful way of sharing a story, but writing captions for the images is critical too. MORE
And of course, it’s equally important to be able to listen closely to the donor’s response to ensure you’re gaining a stronger understanding of their side of the story, too. Let’s face it: first dates can be awkward. MORE
Because, Thursday, September 8 brings the official release of Paul Smith 's new book, Sell with a Story: How to Capture Attention, Build Trust, and Close the Sale. I'm a big fan of Paul's earlier best-sellers, including Lead with a Story and Parenting with a Story. MORE
But the one thing that is not often provided is a tool to help fundraisers tell their personal story. They have to formulate their personal story, or as Marshall Ganz has termed it the “story of self.” These two parts of the story are usually easy for people to articulate. MORE
Join the conversation today as we share five key step you''ll need to take if you hope to tell beautiful stories as you recruit volunteers Storytelling is a critical part of what we do as volunteer coordinators. MORE
Stories are the most effective weapon in your fundraising arsenal. Why stories? Stories – when done well – create an emotional connection between your donor and your mission. The post Online Fundraising Success = Mobile Website + Emotional Stories appeared first on John Haydon. MORE
Pinterest Boards and Facebook Page timelines have given you powerful new ways to tell stories through images. And while Pinterest has always been about images (duh), Facebook Page Timelines have features that are nudging you to tell a more visual story. What story should you tell? MORE
While the exhibit was emotionally wrenching, not to mention disturbing, the most poignant was the children’s memorial that tells the story of innocent child victims of the genocide. They wanted to share their stories on my blog and through video and photos. Here is their stories. MORE
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Leverage video to tell your story. Along the way they’ve used content in the form of life changing stories to help shed light on how they’re making a difference. Yesterday we talked about the importance of content marketing for nonprofits. MORE
" Based on short summary text before the start of the story, you already know that Grace was assaulted. You have three sentences or fewer to catch your reader's attention and convince them your story is worth reading before they move on to something else. MORE
The good news is that infographics allow nonprofits to translate their own collections of data into visual stories that motivate their community. Oftentimes, visuals can speak louder than words. MORE
The post Dear Accidental Nonprofit Marketer – You Were Born to Tell Great Stories appeared first on John Haydon. You are the accidental nonprofit marketer who’s been asked to create content for your organization. But you have mixed feelings about it. MORE
Vanessa works with nonprofit organizations to help them develop stories for donor communications and fundraising appeals. Perhaps you’ve even seen a few examples of stories you think are great. But is your nonprofit actively sharing stories about its work? After working with hundreds of nonprofits over the last few years, I continuously observe that one of the biggest barriers to storytelling is actually finding stories to tell. Tip 2—Tell Stories at Staff Meetings. MORE
Here are a few stories I’ve come across over the last few days that I don’t want you to miss. LinkedIn launches a program to help Nonprofits find board members. LinkedIn Board Connect: Helping Nonprofits Find Board Members on LinkedIn (LinkedIn Blog). MORE
Your brain loves a good story. There is a distinct chemical reaction that happens in one’s brain when they’re reading a compelling or interesting story. This same chemical is also created when you’re reading stories. What’s your story? MORE
When I was in Cambodia last summer, John hosted a blogger’s meet up. When learned about Giving Tuesday , he offered to share an inspiring story about giving back. Give 10 Every Day: An Inspiring Story of Giving Back – Guest Post by John Weeks. MORE
The post Your Mission Statement is NOT Your Story appeared first on John Haydon. I recently spoke at an event about the potential of storytelling to drive social impact. One of the other event speakers was an executive at a large business software service provider. MORE
Baldrick’s Foundation shares expert story-telling advice. Creating share-worthy content means understanding your audience and the story they want to tell. Twitter and Facebook serve different functions, but two things should always be consistent: your ask and your story. Mazarine Treyz of Wild Woman Fundraising has adapted Donald Murray’s Writing to Deadline to give nonprofits 9 ways to tell an old story in a new way. Stories. Tell stories. MORE
As The Children’s Center in Detroit learned first-hand, their unique and compelling brand story was the secret sauce for touching the hearts and moving the minds of donors. What is a brand story? A brand story is a special kind of story. True story. MORE
I hope these statistics and stories on the every-changing world of volunteerism encourage your institution to explore new opportunities. If you have a story – please do share! MORE
It is our story. Does our story attract, captivate and motivate? There’s something about the story that connects with us, who we are, what we think, how we feel and what we like. Storytelling is catching on inside of association circles and beyond. MORE
Whether quietly spearheading some of the world's most groundbreaking scientific and medical research or not-so-quietly leading revolutions on the battlefield, our history is ripe with stories of ferocious, adventurous, enlightened, and persistent women. She challenged many contemporary notions by taking on familiar biblical stories but retelling them through the female experience, and was met with contempt and even violence. she·ro (pl. sheroes) : a woman regarded as a hero. MORE
Growing up in the 1960''s sometimes my parents would say to me, "now, don''t tell stories," heading off what they anticipated might be an untruthful account of events. Truthful stories, of course. Stories demand attention of listeners. Stories inspire. MORE
You can collect fantastic, compelling stories, but if no one hears or sees them, they fall flat. You can manage 10 social media accounts, but if you are not telling great stories and cutting through the online clutter, your audience will not engage. MORE
Stories. Entire civilizations have been built off of, held together by and divided by stories. ” Stories have the power to bring together and to push apart –to distinguish and to extinguish. But who has time to tell stories? The pictures told a story. MORE
Every new nonprofit I work with at Rad Campaign always tell me how they want their new website to do a better job of telling stories. They are usually in a terrific position to tell incredibly inspiring stories, but they don''t have the resources or the time to craft them. MORE
Just a few links I thought you should see. Enjoy. LinkedIn Just Rolled Out a Redesign – Here’s How to Clean Up Your Profile (Fast Company). The Secret To Online Community Success (Hint: It’s Not The Technology) (Vanessa Di Mauro). MORE
Are you showing rather than telling your story? Here are some ideas for reaching the "selfie" generation. social media MORE
Story Related Topics 
NetWits
MARCH 11, 2012
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Leverage video to tell your story. Along the way they’ve used content in the form of life changing stories to help shed light on how they’re making a difference. Yesterday we talked about the importance of content marketing for nonprofits.
Connection Cafe
APRIL 26, 2017
As The Children’s Center in Detroit learned first-hand, their unique and compelling brand story was the secret sauce for touching the hearts and moving the minds of donors. What is a brand story? A brand story is a special kind of story. True story.
Connection Cafe
FEBRUARY 26, 2016
And by asking those questions and looking through the outcomes lens for all of our initiatives, our results story began to demonstrate real impact. Take a look at the story for the same program, now with a new results focus: How do you change your story and focus on results?
TechImpact
OCTOBER 30, 2014
Your brain loves a good story. There is a distinct chemical reaction that happens in one’s brain when they’re reading a compelling or interesting story. This same chemical is also created when you’re reading stories. What’s your story?
Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
AUGUST 31, 2011
Your numerical data can tell stories , but can stories be data that leads to continuous improvement? Or as @orgnet says, “Turning data into stories is the real trick.&#. Your numerical data can tell stories, but can stories be data that leads to continuous improvement?
Connection Cafe
JULY 26, 2016
Stories provide great content pieces for your organization to report backs to donors. Stories perfectly illustrate impact in action. Then, compile those pictures into a Facebook album with captions that help tell the story.
Eric Jacobsen Blog
SEPTEMBER 5, 2016
Because, Thursday, September 8 brings the official release of Paul Smith 's new book, Sell with a Story: How to Capture Attention, Build Trust, and Close the Sale. I'm a big fan of Paul's earlier best-sellers, including Lead with a Story and Parenting with a Story.
Connection Cafe
MARCH 25, 2016
But the one thing that is not often provided is a tool to help fundraisers tell their personal story. They have to formulate their personal story, or as Marshall Ganz has termed it the “story of self.” These two parts of the story are usually easy for people to articulate.
SocialFish
APRIL 22, 2014
Instead, tell the story your audience needs to hear to capture attention and generate engagement. Do you want to improve your association’s brand story? Get at member’s feelings, outcomes and emotions and you can craft a great association brand story. Feelings are your brand.
Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
MAY 17, 2012
While the exhibit was emotionally wrenching, not to mention disturbing, the most poignant was the children’s memorial that tells the story of innocent child victims of the genocide. They wanted to share their stories on my blog and through video and photos. Here is their stories.
Connection Cafe
DECEMBER 4, 2015
I hope these statistics and stories on the every-changing world of volunteerism encourage your institution to explore new opportunities. If you have a story – please do share!
John Haydon
MARCH 23, 2012
Pinterest Boards and Facebook Page timelines have given you powerful new ways to tell stories through images. And while Pinterest has always been about images (duh), Facebook Page Timelines have features that are nudging you to tell a more visual story. What story should you tell?
TechImpact
NOVEMBER 12, 2014
You can collect fantastic, compelling stories, but if no one hears or sees them, they fall flat. You can manage 10 social media accounts, but if you are not telling great stories and cutting through the online clutter, your audience will not engage.
Connection Cafe
FEBRUARY 26, 2016
Although many organizations are telling their stories these days, there still seems to be something missing from their stories. What’s missing is what makes a story truly great – empathy. Yet, all too often we are missing this opportunity with our stories.
NonProfit Hub
MARCH 22, 2016
And in an age of social media, how can we be sure that when people are talking about our nonprofit that they’re telling our story? Telling stories is integral to being human; the science is showing that it’s actually part of our hardwiring. We’re the only species that tells stories. The next time you’re at a crowded event or at a lecture, pay attention to what happens when the speaker says, “Now let me tell you a story.” 5 Buckets of Stories.
Eric Jacobsen Blog
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
Growing up in the 1960''s sometimes my parents would say to me, "now, don''t tell stories," heading off what they anticipated might be an untruthful account of events. Truthful stories, of course. Stories demand attention of listeners. Stories inspire.
SocialFish
FEBRUARY 27, 2017
Just a few links I thought you should see. Enjoy. LinkedIn Just Rolled Out a Redesign – Here’s How to Clean Up Your Profile (Fast Company). The Secret To Online Community Success (Hint: It’s Not The Technology) (Vanessa Di Mauro).
John Haydon
SEPTEMBER 16, 2016
Instagram Stories create an extra layer of visibility for your nonprofit – whenever you want that visibility. Like Snapchat, Instagram Stories last for 24 hours. And like Snapchat, stories are told in a series of pictures and videos.
SocialFish
SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
Here are a few stories I’ve come across over the last few days that I don’t want you to miss. LinkedIn launches a program to help Nonprofits find board members. LinkedIn Board Connect: Helping Nonprofits Find Board Members on LinkedIn (LinkedIn Blog).
NTEN
OCTOBER 12, 2011
Your numerical data can tell stories , but can stories be data that leads to continuous improvement? I shared this on Twitter and the conversation brought out some interesting points that I curated in “Storify,” a story telling tool. (I By Beth Kanter, Beth's Blog.
VolunteerMark
SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
Join the conversation today as we share five key step you''ll need to take if you hope to tell beautiful stories as you recruit volunteers Storytelling is a critical part of what we do as volunteer coordinators.
Connection Cafe
MAY 30, 2014
It’s time to tell stories. This week, Vanessa Chase hosted a webinar all about the power of YOUR story and how to use it to connect with and engage your donors. The Power of Story to Connect with and Retain Donors from Blackbaud. That’s the story that inspires action.
Connection Cafe
JUNE 17, 2013
I also reminded that we don’t tell enough stories when communicating and marketing to our supporters. Andy shared that Peter told Wendy he couldn’t grow up because he didn’t know any more stories. Wow… even Peter Pan knew the importance of stories.
John Haydon
APRIL 13, 2016
Stories are the most effective weapon in your fundraising arsenal. Why stories? Stories – when done well – create an emotional connection between your donor and your mission. The post Online Fundraising Success = Mobile Website + Emotional Stories appeared first on John Haydon.
EveryAction
MARCH 16, 2017
Whether quietly spearheading some of the world's most groundbreaking scientific and medical research or not-so-quietly leading revolutions on the battlefield, our history is ripe with stories of ferocious, adventurous, enlightened, and persistent women. She challenged many contemporary notions by taking on familiar biblical stories but retelling them through the female experience, and was met with contempt and even violence. she·ro (pl. sheroes) : a woman regarded as a hero.
John Haydon
FEBRUARY 16, 2017
The post Dear Accidental Nonprofit Marketer – You Were Born to Tell Great Stories appeared first on John Haydon. You are the accidental nonprofit marketer who’s been asked to create content for your organization. But you have mixed feelings about it.
Connection Cafe
MAY 7, 2015
I go to places where there’s hardship and conflict and find stories of hope, change, and transformation. Q: How do you define story? How do you use your images to share stories? To me, story is a first-person account—a true, real testimony that I have the privilege of sharing. It’s a very pure form of influence, sharing someone’s story. Images are a powerful way of sharing a story, but writing captions for the images is critical too.
Connection Cafe
DECEMBER 22, 2013
Baldrick’s Foundation shares expert story-telling advice. Creating share-worthy content means understanding your audience and the story they want to tell. Twitter and Facebook serve different functions, but two things should always be consistent: your ask and your story. Mazarine Treyz of Wild Woman Fundraising has adapted Donald Murray’s Writing to Deadline to give nonprofits 9 ways to tell an old story in a new way. Stories. Tell stories.
John Haydon
MAY 1, 2015
The post Your Mission Statement is NOT Your Story appeared first on John Haydon. I recently spoke at an event about the potential of storytelling to drive social impact. One of the other event speakers was an executive at a large business software service provider.
SocialFish
SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
Data is only half the story. This is because database data, website analytics and survey responses cannot give us the answers to other critical questions and the important stories behind those answers. We desperately need to know the other half of the story.
Connection Cafe
FEBRUARY 24, 2014
Stories. Entire civilizations have been built off of, held together by and divided by stories. ” Stories have the power to bring together and to push apart –to distinguish and to extinguish. But who has time to tell stories? The pictures told a story.
Frogloop
DECEMBER 18, 2014
Every new nonprofit I work with at Rad Campaign always tell me how they want their new website to do a better job of telling stories. They are usually in a terrific position to tell incredibly inspiring stories, but they don''t have the resources or the time to craft them.
Connection Cafe
JANUARY 21, 2014
While most major gifts folks would probably tell you that nothing could replace the value of an in-person visit or phone call, the real magic of those activities comes for the opportunity to tell the donor a story. A story about a need, a story about someone who has been helped, etc.
Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
NOVEMBER 21, 2012
When I was in Cambodia last summer, John hosted a blogger’s meet up. When learned about Giving Tuesday , he offered to share an inspiring story about giving back. Give 10 Every Day: An Inspiring Story of Giving Back – Guest Post by John Weeks.
EveryAction
MAY 1, 2017
Storytelling is a constant drumbeat that resonates throughout the nonprofit community, but increasingly, stories are getting hard to tell. Not so much with good stories, which are a welcome and inspiring; mostly, it's the difficult tales of struggle, desperation, injustice, and urgency that are the most complicated to convey - but the need has never been so great. What happens when stories go untold? Let me explain what I mean by “difficult stories.”
Tech Soup Blog
MAY 19, 2016
" Based on short summary text before the start of the story, you already know that Grace was assaulted. You have three sentences or fewer to catch your reader's attention and convince them your story is worth reading before they move on to something else.
Frogloop
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
Medium offers a simple, compelling way to share your stories. Because telling your story up close and personal is key.
Connection Cafe
APRIL 21, 2014
According to the blog justgiving.com there are 5 key motivators for giving: to support a particular organization, because we are inspired by other’s stories, to support a cause, to feel good, and. Working with arts organizations there are often concern that your constituent stories aren’t as impactful. We are changing the world and there are stories to be told. Our job is to get those people, those lives, those schools and communities to want to tell our stories.
NonProfit Hub
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Vanessa works with nonprofit organizations to help them develop stories for donor communications and fundraising appeals. Perhaps you’ve even seen a few examples of stories you think are great. But is your nonprofit actively sharing stories about its work? After working with hundreds of nonprofits over the last few years, I continuously observe that one of the biggest barriers to storytelling is actually finding stories to tell. Tip 2—Tell Stories at Staff Meetings.
Wild Apricot Blog
MAY 8, 2014
Are you showing rather than telling your story? Here are some ideas for reaching the "selfie" generation. social media
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