286. The Impact Arc Framework: Unleash the Power of Storytelling - Jonathan McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE

StorytellingEthicsStrategy

Jun 17

Written By Andie Murphy

Impact Arc Framework, We Are For Good Podcast

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Overview

Jon and Becky are continuing to unpack our new Friday series, The Impact Arc, which is uncovering their secret formula...to, well, everything. Thanks to all who joined us last week as we kicked off discussions sharing how we fundraise, build events, campaigns, movements, community, and even our company too. Tune into this 3-part series breaking down the Impact Arc with this week's #2 pillar: Storytelling. Tune in to get all our best storytelling strategies and hacks. 🎧

Explore The Impact Arc Framework 3-Part Series

(Part one: Staging) (Part two: Storytelling) (Part three: Syndicating)

“Story needs to be threaded in everything, because people will come for the story. But they will stay for the impact and for the giving, because they want it to keep going. They want to keep hearing those stories over and over.”

— Becky Endicott, CFRE, Co-Founder and Chief Storyteller, We Are For Good

Episode Transcript

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Episode Overview

Tone setting: The power of telling authentic stories (2:20)
Ethical storytelling (5:00)
How to create a culture of storytelling at your organization (8:45)
Tips to create entry points for sharing stories across all channels of communication (12:15)
- Share and get stories from multiple mediums and channels
- Write the way you speak
- Employ authenticity and vulnerability by focusing on small details
- Tell the unexpected
Documentary Filmmaker Cheryl Miller Houser’s three steps to craft a story arc (21:30)
John Trybus’s five essential building blocks of compelling storytelling (24:00)
Looking ahead to part three of the Impact Arc: Syndication (29:30)

Powerful quotes

“There are so many mediums that you can use that will remind people about the reasons that they choose to give.” -Becky Endicott

“We just think storytelling at its core is a way that you invite others into whatever it is that you're building. It's a way to humanize. It's a way to add texture and grit. It adds real world examples into what you're building. And that invitation might just be one of the most powerful things that you have not stepped into yet.” -Becky Endicott

“Words matter. The labels that we put on people deeply matter.” -Jon McCoy

“Story needs to be threaded in everything, because people will come for the story. But they will stay for the impact and for the giving, because they want it to keep going. They want to keep hearing those stories over and over.” -Becky Endicott

“Storytelling is a team sport and if you are someone who can listen, and you have the ability to make time and space for it, it can be really transformational.” -Becky Endicott

“Creating this culture that we're always sharing, always lifting and celebrating as people are finding those stories can be really revolutionary.” -Jon McCoy

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