In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast, host Dr. Rob Harter welcomes storytelling expert Vanessa Chase Lockshin, founder of The Storytelling Non-Profit and author of The Storytelling Non-Profit. Vanessa shares her extensive experience helping organizations craft emotionally resonant, authentic stories that drive fundraising success and donor engagement. Whether you’re a seasoned nonprofit professional or just starting out, this conversation is packed with practical tips on how to build your organization’s narrative strategy and share stories in a way that deeply connects with your audience.

Vanessa walks through the core elements of powerful storytelling, how to maintain authenticity, create meaningful donor calls-to-action, and why story planning is crucial to long-term communications success. The episode also covers balancing trauma-informed storytelling with impact, the role of conflict in narratives, and how to adapt stories for various platforms from email to Instagram reels.

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