A new post from The Far Edge of Promise puts an interesting twist in the nonprofit storytelling conversation:
So, when leaders say, “we don’t tell our story well,” they are missing a much bigger, more important reality. Telling our institution’s story isn’t nearly as important as allowing our donors to tell us theirs.
And becoming more expert at storytelling isn’t as important as becoming more expert at what I call “story-questioning.” Asking those thoughtful questions that evoke stories from our donors. Questions about their values, about their history, about their successes, about their dreams for their philanthropy, about their vision for our institution.
There is value in your organization’s story. But if that is the only thing you are giving your audience, you will lose their attention. Weaving together the stories of your volunteers, donors, and clients provides a deeper connection with your current audience and will help build new relationships.