Team CauseCircle had a booth at the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference this year — a three-day gathering where nonprofit leaders come together to talk about the art and practice of storytelling. For those who haven’t attended, it’s one of the few national spaces where fundraisers, communications teams, program staff, and executive directors openly compare notes on how they capture real moments, honor the people they serve, and make meaning out of the work they do every day.

After three days of conversations at the conference — chatting with leaders between sessions, comparing notes over drip coffee, and listening to people unpack both wins and frustrations — one theme stood out:

Nonprofits are doing incredible storytelling work, but the process behind that work is still messy, improvised, and held together by a lot of heart.

Not in a negative way — in a very human way. Teams are navigating big missions with small capacities, gathering stories wherever they can, and making it all work through creativity, goodwill, and community trust.

Across roles, budgets, and missions, the reflections we heard were remarkably consistent. Here are the 10 clearest storytelling takeaways from speaking with 150+ nonprofit leaders this year.

1. The challenge isn’t too much content — it’s capturing the moments that matter.

This was one of the most honest admissions we heard.

Most nonprofits aren’t drowning in photos or footage.
They’re surrounded by meaningful moments — a volunteer comforting someone, a client saying something powerful, a spark of joy at an event — but those moments often pass without being captured.

One ED said:

“So many stories happen right in front of us… but we’re usually managing logistics instead of documenting them.”

Another joked:

“It’s like the story is always happening five feet away from whoever has the phone.”

The gap isn’t storage. It’s consistent, in-the-flow collection, especially during busy programs or events where nobody is thinking about storytelling.

2. Fundraising teams still struggle with nudging supporters for stories.

This came up endlessly — and everyone smiled and sighed at the same time when they talked about it. Supporters genuinely want to help. But asking for stories, quotes, reflections, or videos is still awkward and slow.

A development director said:

“Our donors always intend to send something… and then life happens.”

Another added:

“I don’t want to feel like I’m following up on someone’s personal experience like it’s a missing invoice.”

It’s not reluctance — it’s emotional weight, timing, and unclear prompts.
 Fundraising content is easier to use than it is to collect.

3. Authentic, unpolished storytelling is outperforming everything else.

Almost every leader agreed:
“Real” is beating “perfect” right now.

The stories that resonate most with donors today are:

• Selfie-style reflections

• Candid volunteer photos

• Short, imperfect videos
  

• Honest, in-the-moment observations
  

• “Day in the life” voices from program staff
  

One comms manager said:

“Our most successful post last year was literally a volunteer holding their phone sideways.”

The shift is clear:
 Authenticity is the new production value.

4. Data and story aren’t competing anymore — they’re complementing each other.

This was an unexpectedly positive theme.

Leaders said donors now expect:

• A clear human narrative
  

• Paired with one or two meaningful data points
  

• Not a full report
  

• Not a dramatic story
  

• Just a small, complete picture
  

One donor relations lead put it perfectly:

“A story says ‘this matters,’ and a number says ‘here’s the scale.’ Both together is what moves people.”

Storytelling is becoming more balanced and accessible — less pressure to produce the “perfect” narrative or the “perfect” dashboard.

5. Burnout still shapes the storytelling process — but teams are adapting with creativity.

Nobody was shy about the realities of capacity.

But instead of despair, leaders shared small creative adaptations:

• “Story hours” once a month
  

• Rotating “story captains” at events
  

• Quick reflection prompts for staff

• Intern-led story collection
  

• Story banks that get updated between big pushes
  

A program director said something that stuck with me:

“We’re learning to treat storytelling like hydration — you don’t wait for a crisis to drink water.”

Teams are figuring out sustainable rhythms, even with limited bandwidth.

6. Volunteers are emerging as some of the most enthusiastic storytellers.

This was one of the most energizing insights.

Contrary to the belief that volunteers only help with tasks, many leaders said volunteers love sharing:

• Photos
  

• Reflections
  

• Quick journals
  

• Voice notes
  

• “Why I volunteer” snippets
  

One youth nonprofit staff member said:

“Once we gave volunteers two prompts and an example, they took it and ran.”

Another said:

“Volunteers see things we miss — their perspective is gold.”

The appetite is there.
 The opportunity is simply under-structured.

7. Leaders are cautiously optimistic about AI in storytelling.

This year’s conversations around AI were calm, nuanced, and grounded.

Teams said AI helps with:

• Drafting social posts
  

• Summarizing interviews
  

• Creating variations of content
  

• Organizing story notes
  

• Transcribing audio
  

But they were equally clear about what AI must not do:

• Change community voices
  

• Add artificial emotional weight
  

• Replace lived-experience narratives
  

One communications lead said:

“AI can help me get unstuck. But it can’t touch the heart of the story.”

There’s a thoughtful balance emerging — one that respects both efficiency and authenticity.

8. Consent and dignity are becoming central to story practice.

This shift felt important and values-driven.

Leaders spoke openly about:

• Emotional readiness
  

• Agency
  

• Cultural context
  

• Language accuracy
  

• Avoiding extractive framing
  

• Letting people revise or retract their stories
  

A youth development leader said:

“We ask people, ‘Do you feel okay being visible today?’ Not ‘sign this form.’ And the difference shows.”

This reframing strengthens both community trust and donor trust.

9. Campaign seasons reveal the cracks — but also the potential.

GivingTuesday, year-end campaigns, galas, and program launches still bring stress:

• Last-minute photo hunts
  

• Missing assets
  

• Disorganized folders
  

• Scrambling for quotes
  

• Multiple people approving across email slacks
  

But leaders also shared that they’re building more proactive habits:

• Evergreen stories
  

• Pre-interviewed donors
  

• Volunteer “media buddies”
  

• Internal “story rounds” every quarter
  

• A living story bank
  

One ED said:

“We’re not perfect, but at least we’re not starting from zero anymore.” Progress, not perfection, is the trend.

10. Storytelling is shifting from “about the community” to “with the community.”

This was the most hopeful theme of all.

Leaders are rethinking:

• Whose voices appear in stories
  

• Who gets to frame the narrative
  

• How communities see themselves represented
  

• How power shows up in storytelling
  

• What “authenticity” actually means
  

One person said something I wrote down instantly:

“We’re not here to extract stories. We’re here to accompany them.”

It reflects a shift toward partnership, agency, and co-creation — and it’s shaping the future of nonprofit storytelling.

Final Reflections: A Field Full of Creativity, Honesty, and Heart

Talking to 200+ nonprofit leaders left us with a deep sense of respect for the field.

This year wasn’t defined by complaints or overwhelm.
It was defined by:

• Ingenuity
  

• Thoughtful adaptation
  

• A stronger values foundation
  

• A growing interest in community-led storytelling
  

• And a shared desire for storytelling that feels natural, respectful, and joyful
  

The message was clear:

Nonprofits don’t need perfection. They need processes that honor how their work actually happens — among people, in small moments, across many hands.

And they’re finding their way there, one story at a time.

If you’d like the reflection prompts, volunteer story cues, or the mini-guide we shared at the conference, reply — we’re always happy to share.

Contact CauseCircle >