Swipe through for prompts, setup hacks, and one big “why.”

If you’ve ever scrambled for photos after a successful volunteer event—or found yourself thinking “I wish we’d captured that!”—you’re not alone.

At CauseCircle, we believe the best storytellers for your nonprofit are already here. They’re your volunteers. And the right story, told at the right moment, can do more than capture a memory—it can inspire donations, build trust, and bring your mission to life.

But how do you help volunteers tell better stories? The kind that feel human and heartfelt, not forced or filtered?

Here are 5 tried-and-true tips from our Circler community to help you get those stories flowing—with just the right nudge.

1. Give Them the Why

Before the how, share the why.

Most volunteers don’t realize how valuable their stories are. A quick sentence like:

“Every story shared helps more people discover our work and join our mission.”

…is often enough to shift their mindset from "I'm just helping out" to "I'm part of something bigger."

You can even show impact in action—share how a past volunteer's story led to a donation, a new volunteer sign-up, or media attention. That makes it real.

2. Offer Story Prompts That Feel Like Conversations

Skip the “tell us what you did today” approach.
Try open, human questions that sound like a friend asking how their day went:

• What moment made you smile today?
• What surprised you?
• If you had to describe today in one photo, what would it be?
• What’s one thing you learned about this cause that you didn’t know before?
• Who did you meet, and what did they teach you?
  

These work great as in-person prompts, or you can drop them right into your CauseCircle post instructions.

3. Make Storytelling Frictionless

We’re all more likely to share if it’s easy.
Here are a few ways to set volunteers up for success:

• Use QR codes or posters at events that take users directly to your CauseCircle profile or story creation screen

• Have a volunteer lead or staff member do a “first post” to break the ice

• Create a short 15-sec screen recording showing how to post a Story

• If you’re running an event, create a 3-minute “story corner” with a ring light and Canva-style photo backdrop—yes, fun counts!
  

4. Celebrate the Storytellers

When someone shares, show them it matters.

Highlight volunteer posts on your social channels. Tag them (with permission). Say thank you. Better yet, feature a “Circler of the Week” with a short note about what made their story special.

Even a simple reply on the platform—“This photo made our day. Thank you for sharing your voice!”—goes a long way in making volunteers feel like insiders, not outsiders.

5. Repurpose With Purpose

One story = many possibilities. Use CauseCircle to collect stories in real time—but don’t stop there. Download the best ones and use them in:

• Fundraising campaigns

• End-of-year recaps

• Grant reports

• Event invitations

• Social proof for prospective partners

The more volunteers see their stories in action, in real nonprofit reporting, the more they’ll want to keep telling them.

CauseCircle doesn’t just help you repurpose content across formats like grants, social media, or newsletters — it supports your nonprofit through the entire content marketing cycle. Here’s how:

🎯 Listen & Buyer Personas
CC helps you listen at scale — uncover what volunteers and supporters naturally share to understand your audience’s passions, language, and lived experiences.

🎨 Decide on Theme & Topics
Use CauseCircle’s story archive and cause-based filters to identify what’s trending. Plan content that aligns with your mission and what your community actually cares about.

📸 Create Content
Empower anyone on your team — from staff to volunteers — to create engaging, Instagram-style Stories using just their phone. No design tools or production teams needed.

📢 Promote Content
Stories live on your nonprofit’s public CC profile (optimized for search) and are ready to embed, download, or share — making promotion seamless across channels.

📊 Measure & Evaluate
Get instant insights on story views, follows, and engagement — so you know what content is driving connection, visibility, and action.

♻️ Re-purpose
Turn real stories into donor spotlights, annual report material, grant evidence, and more. CC becomes your evergreen content engine — fueling story after story.

Final Thought: You’re Not Asking for Perfection

You’re asking for presence.

The best stories on CauseCircle aren’t glossy—they’re real. A muddy pair of boots. A selfie with a neighbor. A moment of quiet in the middle of community action.

When you empower your volunteers to simply show up with a photo, a quote, or a feeling—you build a movement that reflects the heart of your mission.

So go ahead: print this post, prep your prompts, and let your next event tell its own story.

Need help collecting your first batch of volunteer stories?
👉 Claim your free profile on CauseCircle and start creating with your community today.