the digital storytelling deck
52WaystoShareYourMission withHeart,Clarity&Purpose
Everynonprofithasstoriesthatdeservetobeseen, heard,andfelt.Buttoooften,thosestoriesstayburied— lostinemails,buriedinreports,orstuckinstaff member’sheads.
Thisdeckisyourcreativespark:aflexibletoolkitof promptstohelpyourteamsurfaceandshapereal momentsthatmovepeopletocare,give,andact.
Thesearen'tmeanttoaddmoretoyourplate.They're heretounlockwhat’salreadythere—andhelpyouturn livedmissionmomentsintomeaningfulconnection.
Tracy,Margot,Silvi,Emily&Ashley
Mission moments Storiesfromtheheart ofyourwork
Whatwasa momentyou knewyourwork mattered?
What’ssomething yourcommunity neededthatnoone wastalkingabout? 1 2 3 4 5 6
Describeone clientbeforeand afteryour program. Whatchanged?
Shareasmallwin thatmostpeople wouldoverlook.
What’sabehindthe-scenes momentthat showsyour missioninaction?
Whatproblemare yousolvingthat mostpeopledon’t understandyet? 7 8 9
Describea turningpoint: “Everything changedwhen…”
What’samyth peoplebelieve aboutyourwork —andwhat’sthe truth?
Tellastorythat startswith:“We almostdidn’t makeit…”
10 11 12
What’sthemost humanmoment you’veseenthis month?
What’samoment thatreminded youwhyyour missionexists?
13 14
What’sa challengeyou facedthatmade yourorganization stronger?
What’sone sentence someonesaid thatyou’llnever forget?
What’sastoryyou wishthepublic couldwitness firsthand?
The ties that bind
Buildbridgeswith donors,volunteers,and partners
Whatdoyou wisheverydonor knewaboutyour work?
Tellthestoryofa volunteerwho surprisedyou. Shareacommunity partnermoment thatmadeyoufeel proud.
What’saquestion yougetaskedallthe time—andhow wouldyouanswerit withheart?
Tellastorythat startswith:“You madethis possiblewhen…”
What’sonething yoursupporters don’tseethatyou wantthemto understand?
Describetheripple effectofonegift.
Tellastoryabout someonewho showedupatthe exactrighttime.
What’samoment whenyour community remindedyou you’renotdoing thisalone?
Who’san “unsunghero”in yourworkthat deservesa spotlight?
What’soneway donorsalready belongtothis story?
What’ssomething yourcommunity taughtyouthat changedhowyou lead?
the art of the ask
Story-drivenpromptsto inspiregiving
Writetheasklike you’reinviting someonein,not askingformoney.
Whatwould happenifyour donordid nothing? (What’satstake?)
Whatwould happenifadonor saidyestoday? (What’spossible?)
Finishthissentence: “Agiftof$___ provides…”
Tellthestoryofa needthatcan’t waituntilnext month.
What’sonespecific thingyoucan fundraiseforin48 hours?
Writeathankyou thatfeelspersonal: “Becauseofyou…” What’sthe clearest,simplest “nextstep”you wantsomeoneto takerightnow?
Ifyoucouldfund ONEthingthis month,whatwould itbeandwhy?
36
Tellthestoryofa gapyou’retryingto close(andwhatit coststocloseit)..
What’sthemost meaningfulway someonecanhelp iftheycan’tgivea lot?
Writeanaskthat startswith:“Will youstandwithus by…”
Stories in Motion
Promptsbuiltforvideo andsocialsharing
Filma20-second “missionmoment” fromyourday.
Shareaquote fromsomeone youserve(first nameonly,if needed). 39
Tellastoryusing only3sentences.
Recordathank youvideothat startswith:“Ijust havetotellyou…”
Doaquick“dayin thelife”clip:what areyouworkingon todayandwhy?
Sharea“before andafter” (aspace,a person’sprogress, aproject,aresult).
Givea10-second “Didyouknow?” factaboutyour work.
Showanobjectthat representsyour mission—and explainwhy.
Recorda15-second myth-buster: “Peoplethink___, butreally…”
Shareawinusing thisformat:“Wedid ___ sothat ___ . ”
Showtheteam(or amomentof teamwork)andsay whatittookto maketoday happen.
Postasimple questiontoyour audience:“What madeyoucare aboutthiscause?”
SPECIAL EDITION CARDS
Twobonuspromptsjustfor you(andyourfriends)
“FeatherMoment”
What’sonemoment thisweekthatgave youhope?Shareit.
“Crow’s-EyeView” What’shappening behindthescenes thatdonorsnever see?
