The NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator by Ryan Holck
The success of your nonprofit hinges on how well you communicate the work you do with donors and volunteers.
Share clear stories about the impact you make, and you can measure the results in giving and service hours…
Why… Because stories of impact connect people to the mission of your nonprofit. Taking them beyond the programs and events you offer to see the difference you make in the people you serve.
In this training program, featuring 6 Video Sessions with Worksheets, you’ll get the strategy, technique, and templates you need to Identify, Collect and Share Stories of Impact from your organization.
Hey, I’m Ryan Holck and I help nonprofits share their impact through story.
Since 2003 I’ve been telling nonprofit stories both online and in person.
After serving organizations, from small nonprofits to statewide conventions, I noticed a pattern emerging. The organizations that could clearly share the story of who they served and the impact being made, were thriving, sustainable, and growing. The ones who lacked clarity in their messaging struggled to raise funds and keep the doors open.
Their success didn’t come down to the size of the mission or the solution they provided. It came down to how clearly they could communicate their impact to donors, volunteers, and the community.
But many leaders struggled to know what details were important to include and how to share them. So I created a repeatable process to help.
It is a simple way to IDENTIFY stories worth sharing. COLLECT the details needed to make it compelling. And, SHARE the impact you are making.
As a NonProfit Leader you want to change the world. To see more people served each year by your organization.
But here is the reality.
Serving people… Meeting needs… Changing lives…
It all takes funding and volunteers to make it happen. Without it you will never be sustainable.
And the #1 key to nonprofit sustainability… is learning to share stories about the impact you are making with potential supporters.
But telling great stories that engage people and move them to act doesn’t take guesswork.
It isn’t about luck either. Or about being a smooth, extroverted leader with an articulate pitch that feels fake and contrived.
Nope.
You can be a small nonprofit, with a volunteer team, who serves people faithfully.
Or, you can be a nationwide organization with paid staff and years of experience.
You can do it.
You can learn to clearly share the impact you are making every day…
…in just 6 Video Sessions, with the NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator – a program I built after spending the past 9 years serving 100+ organizations and seeing where they struggled to engage supporters.
Working with Ryan has blown us away. He helped us clarify how we present ourselves to the public, so our mission and actions are clear and understandable. His process allows us to tell our story and remain true to who we are at the same time.
~ Betsy Cockrell, Abundant Life Ranch
Finding the right stories and sharing the impact you are making is not a one and done, set it and forget it event.
It’s an ongoing, regular need that can feel overwhelming and really hard… but you can make it easy.
Let me guess.
As a nonprofit leader, you spend your days working in your organization and keeping the train on the rails.
Most days are jam-packed, meeting needs and doing the work. So finding the time and needed resources to gather stories and share them with supporters is a stretch.
It only happens when you need something for an event or campaign. And even then it feels rushed and disjointed.
As a result, few stories get told beyond your team meetings and key leaders.
So:
- Donors don’t understand the full impact you are making
- Volunteers don’t understand the reason you need help
- The community can’t explain what you do and refer others to you
As a result:
- Donations remain small
- Recurring gifts are almost non-existant
- You struggle to keep sustainable
- And so on…
It doesn’t have to be this way.
You can Identify, Collect and Share Stories of Impact from your organization…
…without losing days of your time for each story you need to share.
It’s true.
All you need is the right system to take you there.
And I’ve already created the system for you.
It comes with the strategy, technique, and templates you Identify, Collect and Share stories about the impact you are making. It’s an easy-to-use, repeatable plan you can implement again and again as you serve more people and keep supporters informed.
The NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator
Created by Ryan Holck
Maybe my promise seems far-fetched.
Is there really a repeatable plan you can implement to help you find and share stories about your impact…
…without all the stress, days of wasted time and constant question about what is and isn’t working anymore (email, print newsletters, social media, text messages, etc.
Can you really learn it in just 6 videos with worksheets?
I’m not one of those “trust me I know what I’m talking about” coaches who have never done any of the things they talk about.
This system works. I’ve used it personally to build campaigns and help nonprofit leaders tell stories for nearly a decade.
To show you, let me explain exactly what my system is, and how it will help you tell better stories about the impact your nonprofit is making. Without the frustration and question about what details are important to be shared, and which ones aren’t.
First, let’s talk about the elements of a good nonprofit story and why they are important.
Every great NonProfit Story Telling includes:
Character
A person you can connect with physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may not look like you or even think like you, but their story pulls you in and you can relate to them
Conflict
A struggle you can empathize with.
You may not have faced the issue personally, but you empathize with their struggle and the issues they wrestle with.
Character
A person you can connect with physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may not look like you or even think like you, but their story pulls you in and you can relate to them
Conflict
A struggle you can empathize with.
You may not have faced the issue personally, but you empathize with their struggle and the issues they wrestle with.
Choice
A threshold moment with stakes.
They reach a point of decision where the only way forward is to make a life changing decision and act on it.
Consequences
The choice ends positively – leading to hope and freedom from the struggles they face.
Or, the choice ends negatively – leaving them in dismay and bondage to the struggles they face.
Choice
A threshold moment with stakes.
They reach a point of decision where the only way forward is to make a life changing decision and act on it.
Consequences
The choice ends positively – leading to hope and freedom from the struggles they face.
Or, the choice ends negatively – leaving them in dismay and bondage to the struggles they face.
Think of finding your nonprofit stories like having coffee with a new friend.
At first, you are talking surface stuff and just getting to know them.
Then, you realize you have a little in common.
You establish trust and build a connection.
They start opening up about the real challenges they face and the choices they need to make.
In the next days, they make that decision and begin to see the consequences of it.
They are amazed by the change they see in their life and excited to tell others about it.
Finding and sharing stories from your nonprofit is like that.
You sit with someone who has been impacted by your organization.
You learn their story. How they got connected with you. The hopes and struggles that lead them to your organization.
Carefully you ask questions about their life before your nonprofit. And the difference your organization has played in their life.
You take notes, and with their permission, share with others about the impact you made in their life.
So when it comes down to sharing the impact you’ve made…
…you’re just restating what they told you as you sat together.
In a world where deep relationships are at a minimum, allowing the people you serve to share about the impact you’ve made is a powerful way to honor them. And, retold well, it can open the door to serving others in the future.
But how do you get started?
How do you find stories worth sharing?
What simple questions can you ask to help someone share their story?
Is there a blueprint you can follow to share a story once you have heard it?
Glad you asked.
Because that’s exactly what the NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator is.
Sharing stories of impact works.
I know because it works for me, every day.
You see, I wasn’t always a marketing and communications coach and storytelling expert.
Back in 2003, I was fired from a job at a church, and unsure what was next. That failure led me into marketing and design, eventually running the communications department at a large local nonprofit. In 2013, it opened the door for me to launch a marketing agency and coaching practice.
All along, I spent my days studying how to tell stories both online and in person. Practicing the craft by writing blog posts, emails, social posts, sales pages, and websites. And shooting video testimonials for local nonprofits which highlighted the work they were doing.
It worked.
In time, my ability to Identify stories worth sharing, Collect the pieces which were most engaging, and Share them in creative ways grew.
Nonprofits were coming to me for coaching on how to tell better stories and connect donors and volunteers to their mission.
The size of the mission didn’t matter. The same storytelling principles that worked for state-wide conventions, worked for small family-run nonprofits.
The difference came down to how clearly they could communicate their impact to supporters.
So, NonProfit Leader.
I think it’s obvious by now.
I didn’t learn how to find and share stories nonprofit overnight.
It was a long time coming, with lots of trial and error.
But I found a process that works consistently, and I’ve packaged my 18+ years of marketing and communication experience into a repeatable process…
… a program that will help you IDENTIFY stories worth sharing. COLLECT the details needed to make it compelling. And, SHARE the impact you are making.
That’s the NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator.
It’s the blueprint that will get you from overwhelmed, underfunded, and short-staffed…
…to knowing the exact steps needed to share the impact you are making with donors and volunteers so they give and serve.
The NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator is an easy-to-use, repeatable plan you can implement again and again to share your impact and become fully sustainable.
Here’s what you’ll get in the
NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator
The NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator isn’t a bunch of random videos that teach you disconnected skills.
It’s a 6-part digital course, with worksheets and resources, to help clarify the stories you share with donors, volunteers, and the community.
Each session presents a core concept and provides you the opportunity to apply it.
Here’s what’s inside:
Module 1
Story Elements
What Makes a Story Worth Sharing
In this section, you’ll get set up with the foundation needed to be successful.
Learn why it’s important to direct and shape the story told about your organization. You’ll learn about the 6 types of stories you need to tell and be challenged to start collecting stories before you need them. You’ll also get real-world examples from other nonprofits of how to apply the initial concepts.
Module 2
Looking for Gold
Identifying Good Stories in your Organization
Struggle to know what stories to tell and which ones not to?
This section is for you. Learn how to sift through the stories you have, uncover the ones with potential, and discover the story gold. You’ll get story-telling worksheets to brainstorm ideas and start identifying potential stories you can be telling.
Module 3
Prepping for Success
How to Collect the Right Details
In this section, I show you my process for documenting story leads.
You’ll learn how to empower a team to help you, and determine which stories are strong enough to move beyond brainstorming to be worked on.
Module 4
Putting it Into Practice
How to Go Get a Heartfelt Story
This section is all about taking the process you’re learning and getting a story documented.
In it, I teach you the process to plan a meeting, conduct an interview, and document your conversation. You’ll also get examples of Story Harvesting Questions to simplify your process and get to the heart of the story they share.
Module 5
Compiling Your Story
How to Assemble the Story for Use
In this section, I guide you to assemble the story pieces from your meeting.
I’ll help you focus your story and learn how to repurpose it in various forms depending on the need and space. You’ll get story examples to help you assemble the pieces and tell a clear, concise and compelling story regardless of the length.
Module 6
Review and Share Your Story
Sharing the Story With Your People
This section will help you review your story and set a plan for sharing it with the world.
I’ll share a planning sheet to show how you can deliver the same story in various lengths across multiple communication channels. And you’ll get examples from other nonprofits of how they implement stories of various types and lengths in their organization.
When you sign up for the NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator, you’ll get immediate access to:
- 6-part Digital Course (Story Elements, Looking for Gold, Prepping for Success, Putting into Practice, Compiling Your Story, Review and Share). The 6-part video curriculum inside NSTA will help you find and share stories of impact with your supporters. This process is the result of working with 100+ organizations over the past 9 years and addressing the recurring needs and challenges in their storytelling.
- Session worksheets. Includes the worksheets you need to process through and complete each step of the digital course.
- Scripted Interview Questions. Get sample questions you can ask during any interview to help make the conversation comfortable and get the details you need to share the story with your supporters.
- Sample Templates. Includes templates for how you can share stories through email, social media, website, and more.
The NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator is a simple, repeatable plan to help nonprofits Identify, Collect and Share the impact they are making with donors, volunteers, and the community.
Am I ready for the Story Telling Accelerator?
You should jump into this program if you can say yes to the following?
1
You are ready to fully commit to telling better stories in an existing nonprofit that is already impacting lives.
1
You are ready to fully commit to telling better stories in an existing nonprofit that is already impacting lives.
2
You want to remain true to who you are, as you share the impact you’re making with donors and volunteers.
3
4
2
You want to remain true to who you are, as you share the impact you’re making with donors and volunteers.
3
4
Ready to change the way people respond to the stories you share about your NonProfit?
Choose your plan now. Both the payment plan and full upfront includes access to everything.
NSTA Pay-in-Full
(Upfront $497 / One-time)
One-Time Payment
The complete course to learn how to Identify, Collect and Share Stories of Impact from your organization
- Entire 6-part Digital Course
- Session worksheets
- Scripted Interview Questions
- Sample Templates
- Save and get $94 off by paying upfront
NSTA Monthly
(3-payments $197 / Month)
Monthly Payment Plan
The complete course to learn how to Identify, Collect and Share Stories of Impact from your organization
- Entire 6-part Digital Course
- Session worksheets
- Scripted Interview Questions
- Sample Templates
- Start for $197/mo – less than $7/day
Ryan Holck & RAD Ideas has been trusted by 100+ organizations, including…
Got Questions?
I’ve got answers. Book a free call with me to talk through your NonProfit Story Telling and how I can help.
If you’ll a nonprofit leader that wants to increase funding, grow volunteers and connect more people to your mission, by sharing the impact you are making – book a free Zoom Call using the calendar below. We’ll connect about how the Story Telling Accelerator can work for you, and help grow your nonprofit.
You’ve got 7 days to put the NonProfit Story Telling Accelerator to the test
- IDENTIFY stories worth sharing.
- COLLECT details needed to make it compelling.
- And, SHARE the impact you are making doesn’t improve
…just send me the work you’ve done to implement the training. If I’ve failed to help you find and share stories of impact within your organization, you deserve your money back – and I’ll give it to you.