The Problem with Nonprofit Storytelling with Maria Bryan

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We know that stories are the lifeblood of a vibrant nonprofit communications strategy. They play a critical role in marketing, fundraising, donor relations, and internal comms. A compelling nonprofit story will inspire lifelong supporters.

However, there is a problem with a lot of nonprofit storytelling.

Traditional marketing teaching tells us to know our audience's pain points, exploit them, and then offer a solution. This can be particularly manipulative in nonprofit marketing since we're working on some of the world's toughest problems. Those we serve are experiencing tremendous pain and often working to overcome insurmountable challenges.

This is where trauma-informed storytelling comes in. On today's episode, my guest Maria Bryan shows us the ways that our sector must tell stories that dignify, respect, and protect the health and well-being of those we serve.

Maria is a nonprofit marketing and messaging strategist who helps nonprofit leaders tell impactful stories that do no harm by speaking about trauma-informed marketing. She has over 15 years in marketing communications in the public sector, a master’s degree in public administration, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of storytelling for nonprofits, how to become a trauma-informed marketer and fundraiser, and how to take care of yourself in this often grueling and exhausting work.

Connect with Maria:

• Twitter: twitter.com/MariaBryanCrtv
• Instagram: instagram.com/MariaBryanCrtv
• Facebook: facebook.com/MariaBryanCrtv
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/MariaBryanCrtv 

About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:

Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.

She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements.

Julia’s online courses, webinars, and keynote talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and how to do effective marketing in the digital age.

Take Julia’s free nonprofit masterclass,  3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media That Converts

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts