Storytelling · A Planning Guide
Plan a story that moves people.
Two simple frameworks and a 60-second builder to help your non-profit turn everyday work into stories worth sharing.
Framework 01
See The Good. Be The Good. Share The Good.
A simple lens for everyone in your organization — from the executive director to the weekend volunteer.
See The Good
Look for it first.
Before you can tell the story, you have to notice it. The volunteer who showed up early. The family helped quietly. The win nobody posted about. Train yourself — and your team — to spot the moments worth capturing.
Try this week
This week, write down 3 small wins your team almost missed.
Be The Good
Live the mission, on camera or off.
Authenticity beats production every time. Donors and volunteers can smell a staged moment. The most powerful stories come from organizations whose daily work is the message — not the marketing.
Try this week
Audit one program: does the experience match the brochure?
Share The Good
Don't let it die in a folder.
A photo on someone's phone helps no one. A 30-second clip on the right channel can fund a quarter. Sharing is part of the work — not bragging, but inviting more people into the mission.
Try this week
Publish one story every two weeks. Boring is worse than imperfect.
Framework 02
Assess. Educate. Act.
The structure behind every story we tell — and the one we'd recommend you use for your next campaign, video, or newsletter.
01 · Assess
Know who you're talking to — and why they should care.
Most mission messaging fails because it's written for everyone. Pick a person. Picture their kitchen table. Write to them.
- Who is the one person you most want to reach? (Be specific. Not 'the community.')
- What do they already believe about an organization like yours?
- What's the single change you want them to make — give, volunteer, attend, share?
02 · Educate
Teach, don't pitch.
People don't share asks. They share insights. If your story teaches them something they didn't know, they'll pass it on for you.
- Show the problem in human terms — one face, one number, one moment.
- Explain what most people get wrong about the issue you serve.
- Make the listener smarter for having watched 60 seconds of your content.
03 · Act
Make the next step impossible to miss.
Awareness without an ask is a hobby. Every story you publish should make it easier — not harder — for someone to step toward you.
- One call to action per piece. One. Not five.
- Lower the cost of yes — a text, a $10 gift, a shared link.
- Tell them exactly what happens after they click.
Interactive · Story Builder
Build your See / Be / Share plan in 60 seconds.
Answer six quick questions. We'll generate a tailored storytelling plan you can copy, share with your team, and start using this week.
Step 1 of 6
In one sentence, what does your nonprofit do?
Plain language. Pretend you're telling a neighbor at a coffee shop.
You need a better story, not a bigger budget.
Want a second set of eyes on your plan? Send it our way and we'll send notes back.