Why You Should Share Your Impact Stories Early

I used to hoard impact stories.

Some stories were so good, I knew that I had to save them for a special occasion, like events or board retreats.

Impact stories aren’t just heartwarming add-ons. They are evidence of why our work matters. But too often, they sit unused and hidden in databases, tucked inside annual reports, or buried in inboxes.

Good stories want to be told. And if we hoard these stories, waiting for the perfect time, the perfect audience, or the perfect opportunity, we’re missing out.

As fundraisers and nonprofit leaders, we have a responsibility to move stories from storage to strategy. That means systematizing how we collect them, integrate them, and deploy them—ethically and consistently.

In this week’s video, I talk about the importance of sharing stories (and another common storytelling mistake nonprofits make). Take a look – and let me know if you’ve got a story that’s been shelved that you are ready to share in a new way. Because stories don’t create change when they’re archived. They do when they’re activated.

And if you’re ready to tell better stories and do deeper work with your donors and your mission, drop me a line. It’s time to get to work!