Hi KG blog readers! Dakota asked me to do a blog this week to talk about my experience with the 501 Tech Club speaking on a panel called “Digital Storytelling for Nonprofits.” I was invited by Heidi Massey of CommunityConnective and Eva Penar of the Chicago Community Trust to speak with a cohort of nonprofit communications professionals on the art of storytelling and how a captivating, engaging story can drive their supporter base to action. I was joined by Susy Schultz of Public Narrative, who talked about best practices in digital storytelling.

We described how combining quality content with clear narrative voice unites and empowers your fans. Nonprofits often feel lost in the cacophony of noise online and are unsure of where to use their resources — how do you break through and start a conversation, create awareness, and establish yourself organizationally as a leader and expert in your field? Susy spoke about specific tactics to communicate online with thought and intention in order to mobilize and tell the unique story of each individual nonprofit. 

As a filmmaker, I used examples from films like Radical Grace and @home to emphasize the need for authentic storytelling and the effective use of video for greater overall success. Additionally, Susy and I both reminded the nonprofits to consistently remember the audience for every piece of content — video or otherwise — that they throw into the digital sphere. Who are you talking to? Why are you talking to them? What are you trying to communicate? 

We ask these questions for every project, film, and engagement campaign Kindling undertakes and consistently strive to answer them effectively, comprehensively, and with an eye towards crafting something outstanding. It’s important to remember as both a nonprofit and an organization with a culture of storytelling, that we straddle two worlds and want to do both well. 

At Kindling, we spend our entire day immersed in stories and their power so it was a lot of fun to help other nonprofits with widely varying missions understand and embrace stories as a powerful tool for positive change both internally, in their company culture, and externally, as they present the issues that are important to them to the public. Participants ranged from the Interfaith Youth Council to The Alliance for the Great Lakes to the Department of Children and Family Services — a testament that stories really do unite! I’m grateful to Heidi, Eva, and Susy for inviting me.