Everyone has a story. So what?
Do more than tell your story. Spark a connection. Ignite action.
From Instagram Stories to TED talks, stories are everywhere. But can everyone tell a story? Is every story worth telling? Does my nonprofit have a story — a compelling one? And can this story actually lead to action? How?
If these questions cross your mind, we have answers. We help nonprofits craft and convey stories with a purpose: to spark a connection with people, and inspire them to action.
Though stories are an essential form of human communication and connection, not all stories have a message, or an objective. Not all stories have an emotional impact. Our take is that compelling storytelling uses narrative rooted in human experience and delivered through the use of craft. Such stories, crafted well, have the potential to connect with people.
This is why we believe that nonprofits are uniquely suited to tell powerful and persuasive stories: because nonprofits — even those working on the most abstract problems — ultimately connect people to human experiences.
It’s why we have developed our specific methodology, trainings, and templates, to help you tell your story — and make it matter. We also present stories visually — through video, photos, and illustration or design. And we develop and implement strategies so your stories get out in the world, and achieve the results you seek.
TakeTwo can help you tell your story.
Why bother with stories?
Stories matter. But it’s not just us saying it. Science shows that reading, watching or listening to stories stimulates our brains in ways that make us have a richer experience of the information, which is why we remember stories. Brains on stories also do things like neural coupling and mirroring which allows us to actually see ourselves, and experience similar emotions to those in the story. In other words, stories lead to empathy. And empathy can be a powerful trigger for action.
Science also tells us that because we see ourselves in stories, we’re much more likely to remember them.
Some other reasons stories matter:
- They put a human face — and equally important, a human consequence — to the issues you work on.
- They are personal; people trust personal stories.
- They shape how we perceive the world, our place in it. And they can shape how the world sees us — in this case, how it sees your nonprofit/issue.
Does my organization have a story? And does it matter?
Everyone has a story. Your organization’s story might be of its founding. Or of its people, your impact. But it’s true that not all stories are compelling — to everyone. That doesn’t mean that your nonprofit’s story doesn’t matter; what matters is how you tell that story, and to whom.
We can help you identify the unique value of your story — the nugget that connects you to those who will care — and craft and convey it so that story matters.
How can TakeTwo help me tell my story?
We have three main areas of storytelling work:
- Identifying and crafting your story: this is where we work with you to brainstorm and get to the most powerful stories you, and only you, can tell. We then help you craft how that story is delivered — using language, storytelling craft techniques, and tailoring it to your audience, the medium you’ll use, and your desired objective.
- Trainings in how to tell your story: we know how to tell stories — we’ve developed a methodology for it — and we teach you how to apply that methodology so you can craft your nonprofit’s stories.
- Conveying your stories: The tale is only as good as the telling, right? We can help you tell your story in a variety of formats — from a storybook, to video, to even Instagram.
What’s the TakeTwo storytelling method? How is it unique?
TakeTwo’s storytelling methodology is led by Bix Gabriel, who is a writer, storyteller, and a nonprofit marketing specialist. She also happens to be the co-founder of TakeTwo. Our storytelling methodology is born out of the combination of applying the techniques of great storytelling, with all its craft elements (narrative tension, strong characters, for instance) and applying the principles of marketing, such as identifying a target audience, and embedding a call to action.
We don’t have a one-size-fits-all formula, but we do have specific tools, techniques, and a process that can make your story compelling.
What do we get from TakeTwo’s storytelling training/process?
Depending on what you need, you will get:
- A set of story ideas generated by your specific experience
- A grounding in the fundamental elements to help you create a story
- Direction on language choices that bring a story alive
- Actual written storylines
- Visualization of stories in different formats
- Complete stories that you can use as you need to
- A strategy of how to use the stories for the impact you seek
I don’t have the budget for a fancy (read:expensive) multimedia story. How can I get my story out in the world?
Some of the longest-standing tales have never been written down, let alone made into movies. We’ll help you use the tools you have at your disposal — text, photos, audio, or perhaps something else — so you can create a story that fits your goals and your budget. We can also give you strategy for how to “distribute” your story so it reaches the people you need.
My organization works on some of the most complex, or abstract, or uh, dry topics. We work on policies, not with people. How can we use a story?
The beauty of storytelling is that it is an act of imagination. Which means that your work doesn’t have to be presented in literal or even real terms. Take Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, Alice in Wonderland — each of these is a story that pulls you in, keeps you reading, and spurs thinking about an idea. While you don’t have to invent a world inhabited by a Cheshire cat, you can develop stories using metaphors, allegories, and even satires. The shape of your nonprofit story might not seem obvious at first, just as Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia isn’t immediately evident as a symbol of God, but that’s why we’re here. We’ll help you identify possibilities for how your spreadsheets can tell a story.