Article Meetings / Events 2 min read

Wednesday Buzz: Tell a Story That People Won’t Forget

Don't be afraid to add a little drama when telling your nonprofit's story. Also: how to get the most value out of the next meeting you attend.

Raegan Johnson

April 26, 2017

Heads up: this content is over 5 years old, so some information may be out of date.

Nonprofits tell a lot of stories, whether it be for cause-driven campaigns or in annual reports. How can you make yours unforgettable?

Hypsypops Design Co., an information design firm, provides a narrative structure to help you deliver a more powerful message  (opens in a new tab).

Plot your narrative using the Gustav Freytag pyramid. Begin with the pyramid base—exposition, including introducing your characters. Then reveal the central conflict of your story, which is the problem that your organization is trying to solve.

Follow that up with the rising action. And then deliver the climax, the peak of the pyramid, where your nonprofit may be playing the hero. Next, show the falling action “where you show why [your nonprofit’s] solution is a solution.” And finally, reveal the resolution.

Hypsypops also provides a checklist to help you tailor your nonprofit’s work to a narrative arc. Make sure you precisely determine your target audience and frame your story around a call to action.

Boost Event Value

#EventProfs  (opens in a new tab) #EventOrgs  (opens in a new tab) TIP! Review any notes the evening after the event and create to-do lists. #GovEventsBlog  (opens in a new tab) https://t.co/dAYcJiarSc  (opens in a new tab)

— Kerry Rea (@Kerry_Rea) April 26, 2017  (opens in a new tab)

Are you attending industry-related events this spring? Make the most of your meeting attendance by going in with a specific goal, says a recent GovEvents blog post  (opens in a new tab). “If you are looking to make connections, set a specific number of people you want to meet or go in with a list of names/job titles that you’d like to connect with,” writes Kerry Rea, president of GovEvents.

And be sure to create a plan for following up with the contacts you make. Think about connecting through social media, engaging online, or even setting up a coffee date.