Purpose’s Megan Anhalt Talks Storytelling at the Nonprofit Technology Conference

The ability to craft a powerful and inspiring story is at the heart of any successful social impact movement. But how do you get there? How do you translate your cause into a compelling story and then share that story to motivate others?

On March 4th, The Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (NTEN) held its annual conference in Austin, Texas.  The conference brought together nonprofit leaders and change makers from across the globe.  Along with The Rockefeller Foundation and the Foundation for Jewish Camp, Purpose co-hosted a symposium entitled, « Multichannel Storytelling for Social Impact, » which focused on best practices and methods for storytelling and story development.  

Purpose Strategy Director, Megan Anhalt, was one of the key presenters at the event, where she discussed what separates a « good » story from an « amazing » one.  An amazing story’s primary components include, among other things, 1) capturing raw human moments, 2) establishing a « Hero vs. Villain » in the dialogue, and 3) timing, which requires deliberate strategy, not simply pure luck.  Without these elements, the ability to convey a story that seeks to inspire change or enlighten minds is nearly impossible.

Ultimately, the session explored how to use your organization’s best stories across multiple channels for better outreach, fundraising, and funder impact reporting.  It also emphasized the importance of data capturing to diligently track your numbers, allowing for future efficiency and success.

Below is a storytelling blueprint to follow when launching your next social impact initiative: 

1) What makes a good story, and who’s the right storyteller?
2) How can you maximize time spent sharing good content with the right audience?
3) What ways will you measure what’s working or what’s not?
4) What tools and resources can help transform your nonprofit into a storytelling organization?