Community Impact Narratives

Dear Nonprofit, Please…please stop making your Beneficiaries invisible. Too many nonprofit stories go like this: “We came into the community. We gave them XYZ. They were so grateful.” Where are the people? The voices? The agency? When your storytelling makes it sound like the beneficiaries are helpless props and you’re the savior… it’s giving “look at me, I’m here for the PR” Here’s an example: Instead of: “We provided school supplies to 300 disadvantaged children in slums.” Try: “Amina, age 10, shared how having her own books made her feel proud and motivated to study again. Her community led the initiative- we just supported their effort.” See the difference? The second one tells us who, how, and why it mattered. It invites empathy without stripping dignity. Good storytelling should: – Show dignity, not pity – Highlight resilience, not just suffering – Center the people, not just the organisation – Share outcomes, not just emotions You’re not the hero. You’re part of a system of change…and the people you serve? They’re the main characters. Want to stand out to funders, partners, and communities? Tell better stories. The kind that reflect real lives, real change, and real partnership. Because “impact” isn’t just in your reports, It’s in how you represent the people you claim to serve. Laura Temituoyo Ede Helping nonprofits move from good intentions to thoughtful storytelling that actually connects

This partnership hits 'home' for me. I'm a huge Carhartt fan, and I went to undergrad in upstate New York (Go Contentials!). People know me because I wear it all the time. Brands and rights holders should look at this partnership... The Buffalo Bills and Carhartt have announced a partnership that spotlights the skilled tradespeople bringing the new Highmark Stadium to life. Through Carhartt's "Made Possible" platform, the collaboration features storytelling that celebrates the grit, expertise, and day-in, day-out dedication of the crews on site—featuring appearances from Bills legend Thurman Thomas and the 34 Group to ground the story in Buffalo's own. Beyond content, the partnership channels tangible support into Western New York's workforce pipeline, reinforcing vocational training and community programs that help more people pursue high-demand careers in the trades. It's a timely recognition of the massive effort behind the stadium's progress and a statement that the people who build game day deserve to be center stage, too. Why it's important - Elevates the trades: The campaign places craft, safety, and precision on the same pedestal as on-field performance, helping shift perceptions about what success looks like. By showcasing real builders as protagonists, it turns trade careers into visible, celebrated pathways—especially for students and career-changers who may not see themselves in traditional four-year tracks. - Direct community impact: Investment into local training programs means more scholarships, equipment, and apprenticeships where they're needed most. That support translates into higher placement rates, steadier paychecks, and upward mobility for families—while supplying local contractors with the skilled talent they struggle to find. - Authentic to Buffalo & Western New York: Coming from Arizona and going to undergrad (Hamilton College) in upstate New York, I had a culture shock. But this partnership fits so well for people in Western New York & Upstate New York. Featuring trusted voices and Buffalo-first storytelling keeps the focus on the region's identity: hard work, loyalty, and resilience. Authenticity builds trust—fans recognize when a brand narrative reflects who they are, which in turn fuels organic sharing and long-term goodwill. - Content with purpose: The film and on-site storytelling do more than entertain; they educate and recruit the next generation of builders. Because the content is values-driven and human-centered, it's highly shareable and usable across channels—from scoreboard moments and classroom visits to partner campaigns and trade-school outreach. This partnership should be a blueprint for how teams and brands can celebrate essential workers, invest in workforce development, and create a story the community is proud to share as the next era of Highmark Stadium takes shape. For more, we're here to help. #sportsbiz #sponsorship #heretohelp 

With grant applications, where facts and data are the most necessary, we dared to do something different with one organization: with a story. This organization has a community initiative that sought funding to address mental health issues through music therapy. How? Impactful storytelling. The core of their organization was a mission to heal. But we knew a proposal of statistics about mental health would be like everyone and, eventually, forgettable. So, we decided to go against the norms and narrated the founder’s story. As a war veteran who faced profound struggles with PTSD, we crafted their narrative into the application to detail the battles and their solace in music. Instead of generalizing PTSD statistics, we highlighted how music therapy transformed their life, turning them from a statistic into a triumph. Their grant applications shared more stories, each serving as a testament to the power of their program. It wasn’t just about what they aimed to do but what they had already achieved on a human level. We combined these narratives with data, yes, but the stories were front and center. The result? We captivated the attention of the grant funders by showcasing a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. We used language to personalize the impact and illustrated their success through real-life narratives. The reviewers were no longer reviewing an application; they were envisioning the transformation. Not only did they secure the grant, but they also built lasting relationships with funders. Your project, your initiative, and your passion deserve more than just a standard application. It holds a story, one that can open doors and hearts alike. Don’t let it just be an application. Let it be your narrative. #grantwriter #storytelling #grants #grantfunding

⚡ Why Digital Communities Deserve a Seat at the Impact Table ⚡ I’ve spent years moving between two powerful worlds that don’t talk to each other nearly enough: The social impact sector—where change is measured in lives touched, systems shifted, and futures reimagined. And digital community building—where connection is decentralized, peer-led, and often dismissed as “just engagement.” My career path has been a learning curve instead of a staircase. I’ve seen what happens when people come together with shared purpose, online and off: From building in-person support spaces for survivors, to moderating digital communities, to supporting systems-change collaborations across the Global South at Catalyst Now. And now, back in the impact sector full-time, the disconnect is glaring: 1. Social orgs often treat digital platforms as broadcast channels. 2. Tech teams focus on engagement or growth, but rarely connect that to long-term impact. Meanwhile, Digital communities are becoming the new civic infrastructure. - They’re where people find belonging. - They’re where narratives shift. - And they’re where movements start. Let's break down one of the most famous examples: The #MeToo movement began with a hashtag but became a global, decentralized community of survivors, advocates, and changemakers. What started as a digital conversation turned into real-world action: legislation, organizational reform, cultural shifts. That didn’t come from content strategy—it came from connection. 📖 Read the case study from The Opportunity Agenda: https://lnkd.in/dhKW85Fh So why aren’t we measuring that? 🗯️ What would our systems look like if we tracked trust, identity transformation, co-created solutions, not just clicks and comments? If you're building or researching at the intersection oftech, community, social change I’d love to hear from you. What’s working in your space? What digital communities have created measurable change? How are you measuring real impact, beyond marketing metrics? #DigitalCommunities #SocialImpact #SystemsChange #MeToo #CommunityBuilding #ThirdSpace #ImpactMeasurement #TechForGood #CurlyCareers #CommunityManagement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, my name is Avani and I write about community, my life experiences and synchronicity. If you see this post, please drop me a comment. Let's have a conversation, and become a community for one another. 🔥 We are here to change the world. May the bridges we burn light the way. 🔥 (image courtesy Global Fund For Women)