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Ask for Their Stories Via Email
Coming soon: Story prompts on GreatNonprofits website
Invite Stories With Email
“Dear friend, if you love our work, then tell the world! Did you know that behind
recommendations from friends and families that reviews impact volunteering
and donating decisions?
Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review of your
experience on GreatNonprofits—a review site like Yelp, but for nonprofits? All
reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers.
It’s easy and only takes three minutes! Go to [INSERT YOUR NONPROFIT
PROFILE LINK HERE] to get started!”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/greatnonprofitswebinar2016colleenandtheartscienceofstorytelling7-160727180116/85/The-Art-and-Science-of-Storytelling-Get-ready-for-your-end-of-year-fundraising-31-320.jpg)
The Art and Science of Storytelling: Get ready for your end of year fundraising
- 1. 1 July 6, 2016 2016 Webinar Series: The Art and Science of Storytelling
- 2. 2 Our Agenda Today Welcome and Introductions 10 mins 1) The Science of Storytelling 10 mins 2) Case Study: A Stellar Story 10 mins 3) The Art of Storytelling 10 mins Storytelling Tools and Q&A 15 mins
- 3. 3 Our Presenters Perla Ni CEO, GreatNonprofits Founder, Stanford Social Innovation Review Colleen Wilson GreatNonprofits Former Communications & Philanthropy at Genentech Elsia Vasquez Founder & Executive Director, Pa’lante Harlem
- 4. 4 Let’s Make This a Dialog ● Participate in the polls ● Use the chat function to ask us a question; we’ll answer them at the end of the webinar
- 5. 5 GreatNonprofits is a Storytelling Platform More than 250,000 stories from 26,000+ nonprofits
- 6. 6 1 The Science of Storytelling
- 7. 7
- 8. 8 Everyone Loves a Good Story People spend most of their conversations telling personal stories and gossiping. A 1997 study found that social topics accounted for 65 percent of speaking time among people in public places, regardless of age or gender. A 1997 study by anthropologist and evolutionary biologist Robin Dunbar, University of Liverpool
- 9. 9 Great Stories Are... Concrete Emotional SurprisingCredible
- 10. “ 10 Great Stories Evoke Empathy Empathy is part of the larger ability humans have to put themselves in another person’s shoes. We can attribute mental states—awareness, intent—to another entity. Theory of mind, as this trait is known, is crucial to social interaction and communal living and to understanding stories. The Secrets of Storytelling: Why We Love a Good Yarn, Scientific American Mind, August 2008
- 11. 11 Your brain on stories The storyteller and listener experience brain-to-brain coupling
- 12. 12 2 Case Study: A Stellar Story
- 13. 13
- 14. 14 PALANTE: Empowering Harlem “”I will help you (organize), but you have to help your neighbor,” PALANTE founder Elsia Vasquez 14
- 15. ““I am dealing with one of the biggest/worst landlords in NYC and PALANTE has helped me and my neighbors get organized. We now have a tenant association thanks to their support and we are ready to work for humane living conditions. Elsia and the team at PALANTE are angels. They help the most vulnerable.” — Client Edwin Torres, New York City
- 16. 16 How PALANTE Uses Storytelling Getting new stories is a regular task ● Every 3 - 4 months ● Via many communications channels: Social media, email, in-person meetings events ● This is part of PALANTE’s ongoing work; two staff members, no dedicated communications position Once gathered, stories are shared while they’re fresh ● Shared through PALANTE’s communications channels ● Used to gain media attention, in conversations with donors/funders
- 17. 17 It wasn’t until 2012, when a neighbor put him in touch with a tenant advocacy group, Pa’ Lante, that he looked into the apartment’s rent history and discovered that the legal rent of the apartment was actually $233 a month. (He was paying $1,300 per month.) DNAInfo, March 2, 2015 PALANTE in the News
- 18. 18 How PALANTE Uses GreatNonprofits Regularly asks for reviews ● Every 3 - 4 months ● Via social media and emails Leverages the GreatNonprofits badge ● Social media and website
- 19. 19 More PALANTE News Coverage “The NY Daily News covered our top-rated award status in 2014, and we believe that led us to receive an anonymous five-figure gift.”
- 20. 20 3 The Art of Storytelling
- 21. 21 GreatNonprofits is Working to Make Storytelling More Effective Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ● Two-year storytelling research study ● GreatNonprofits and our partners will collect, analyze and share a diverse set of donor stories Goals ● Increase the nonprofit sector’s understanding of donor perceptions and motivations ● Enhance the GreatNonprofits platform to track and share behavioral changes about donors to improve nonprofit programs and outreach
- 22. 22 Our Interests in Storytelling Stories engage Great stories increase donors’ intentionality and better engage them in your cause Stories connect Requesting stories is another way to connect with donors that doesn’t involve asking for money Stories elicit emotion Showcasing your stories increases donors’ empathy and provides an emotional tie to your cause
- 23. 23 What Makes an Ideal Story Characters ChangeChallenges Who will inspire your audience(s)? Will his/her values or life experience motivate your audience(s)? Characters What challenges has he/she gone through? Will those challenges speak to your audience? Challenges How has the protagonist changed through his/her journey? How can the world be a better place if we learn from his/her story? Change An Amazing Story
- 24. 24 Storytelling isn’t about just telling what we do. It’s about telling people who you are.
- 25. “ 25 25
- 26. 26 9 out of 10 donors 9 out of 10 donors 81% of users say reviews have helped them decide where to volunteer say reviews have helped them understand a nonprofit’s mission say reviews have shaped their opinion of a nonprofit 8 out of 10 donors say that GreatNonprofits influences their giving Storytelling on GreatNonprofits Platform
- 27. 27 ● Americans who donate 10% or more of their income are less depressed. ● Americans who describe themselves as “very happy” volunteer an average of 5.8 hours/month vs. those who are “unhappy” (0.6 hrs) Telling Our Stories Benefit the Listener and Storyteller
- 29. 29 Review Other Storytelling Resources
- 30. 30 Find a Couple of Great Characters • Think of 1-2 terrific donors and/or volunteers • These people have a story that can inspire others • These people have values or life experiences that will motivate others
- 31. 31 Ask for Their Stories Via Email Coming soon: Story prompts on GreatNonprofits website Invite Stories With Email “Dear friend, if you love our work, then tell the world! Did you know that behind recommendations from friends and families that reviews impact volunteering and donating decisions? Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review of your experience on GreatNonprofits—a review site like Yelp, but for nonprofits? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes three minutes! Go to [INSERT YOUR NONPROFIT PROFILE LINK HERE] to get started!”
- 32. 32 Real Heartfelt Stories, From Real People Cambodian Children’s Fund
- 33. 33 Patricia G’s Story “Initially, I was going to give a one time small donation. When I saw the faces of the children who needed a sponsor, I knew I could tighten my belt. I made a silent commitment to Rachna, my sponsor child, and to myself: I would not let her down. It occurred to me that I was not getting any younger and if I was going to meet Rachna, I'd better start making plans. There are moments in life that you know you are memorizing every sound and sight. I felt like that when Rachna stood up to greet me for the first time. I thought my heart would burst. The translator took me to two schools, the clinic and nursery. I saw happy, healthy, courteous children. They give direct eye contact and there is a quick smile on their faces. That speaks volumes. CCF does so much for so many people. It gives children a meaningful future. It feeds and educates children. You'll never regret it. Take it from an old woman who went half way round the world by herself, your donation DOES matter.”
- 34. 34 Use Your Stories This Fundraising Season Look for existing stories • Stories that exist on GNP platform are yours to use Curate your stories • Ask for photos to accompany the stories • Use the story/photo combos on other communications channels Social media Website Events Print Videos Low Effort Medium Effort High Effort Determine how you’ll use the stories
- 35. 35 How to Use Top-Rated Status By collecting 10 stories on the GreatNonprofits website, your nonprofit will be top-rated! You can use this information in: • emails • newsletters • website • social media
- 37. Thank you!