What Does the Research Say About Nonprofit Storytelling and Storybanks?

Actually, a lot.

I knew storytelling was important when I started this research project in the spring of 2020. As a former anthropology student, I saw the impact of storytelling in my fieldwork. Not just on the listener–but also the powerful changes that could happen to a storyteller when they shared their experiences. Stories are a potent way for humans to connect and to find meaning.

I also knew, from my 25+ years as a web designer, that while communicating stories effectively is important to nonprofits, most are struggling to create and communicate their narratives.

Nonprofits don't sell a product - they have to convince their communities and supporters that the work they do is so important that giving generously of time and money is necessary not for immediate gratification, but to make the world a better place for all of us. Stories are the workhorses of that effort.

In a world where their work is more important than ever, telling stories well isn't just a "nice to have." Nonprofits need to be master storytellers.

So I set out to find out how nonprofits could be better storytellers. Besides academic research, I spent the last years interviewing numerous nonprofits, large and small, about their challenges. I wanted to know, day to day, what challenges communication staff face.

What are widely held beliefs in the nonprofit sector about storytelling?  Why are some NPOs more successful than others?

I also wanted to know if new and innovative technologies could help. If it's about saving time, for example, can more effective storybank tools help? If it's about a lack of skills, is there an opportunity for storybanks to inject story crafting education or using AI while managing story data?

It turns out the benefits of narrative communication to NPOs reach far beyond fundraising. Storytelling supports capacity building and strengthens organizational resilience in a number of ways.

I've just finished writing a research brief - a summation of the most important revelations. And it's free for you to download. It is a call for nonprofits to think through how they use storytelling in their organizations. And it also suggests ways that storybank development can support a shift to a nonprofit storytelling mindset.

Who is the research brief for?

Nonprofits of all sizes, nonprofit consultants, and storybank developers.

What will you find in the brief?

  • three of the biggest challenges nonprofits face in their need to be better storytellers,
  • how nonprofits can use storytelling across their entire organization to build capacity and resilience,
  • repositioning the idea of a storybank (n) to storybanking (v) to support a new understanding of narrative communication benefits,
  • envisioning new ways storybanks can support expanded nonprofit storytelling and story sharing objectives,
  • opportunities for storybank applications to partner with nonprofits and support cultures of storytelling,
  • and finally, some action items for nonprofits interested in leveraging the benefits of storytelling and storybanking.

What does it cost?

NOTHING!

Nope–I'm not even going to ask for your email address. Why? Because this research project was truly a community endeavor. It was supported by The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the National Science Foundation I-Corps program, and the Small Business & Technology Development Center here in Western North Carolina through Taking The Leap.. Many folks generously gave up time in their busy day to be interviewed.

And, in the process, after digging into the research and talking to so many dedicated nonprofit folks, I've become a bit of an evangelist for how they can improve their storytelling.

I hope that the information in this brief will benefit you and support your nonprofit's effort to become a better storyteller. 

If you would like to share, reuse or repurpose this information for your own needs, please do, but note that attribution in full is required. And, of course, I'd love to hear back on how it helped! If you would like to know more about the project, or if my services can help professionally, please don't hesitate to get in touch.


If you would like more information that can help your nonprofit be more successful, check out the latest TCS newsletters, and sign up to have them sent directly to your email box.


 

Is this information useful? Share it and start a conversation!

EXCLUSIVE REPORT

Unlock the Potential of Storybanking

Discover How Story Banks:


Elevate Nonprofit Engagement 🚀

Transform Narrative Strategies 📢

Build Capacity & Strengthen Resilience 🌟

Claim Your 18-Page Research Brief Now!

By submitting your email, you consent to join our email list. You can unsubscribe anytime.

TCS doesn't spam! Read our Privacy Policy for more info. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top