Thoughts
How to tell social impact stories for corporate foundations
Charities and foundations both have powerful stories to tell about their social impact, but to get them right, storytellers need to understand what sets them apart.
AI, creativity and falling in love with music again
My good friend Neil said that switching from Spotify to Qobuz has made him fall in love with music again. Really, Neil? You sure you’re not overstating your reaction to a simple platform change? It was enough to make me find out for myself. A couple of weeks on, I’ve come to see what he means.
What does any of this have to do with storytelling for social good? I'll try to explain...
The time for ethical storytelling is now
Last week, Refugee Action brought together over 100 charities to send a letter to the Labour Home Secretary with the following message:
Stop blaming migrants and tackle the UK’s real problems.
What I like best about this message is its ambition; more than a counterargument, it seeks to change the whole conversation. But you can’t deny the emotional power of anti-migrant narratives. So what can the charity sector do to reclaim emotional storytelling for social good?
Charities need to find their climate voice more than ever
Yes, it’s getting hotter all the time, but, according to government research, people are caring less. At the same time, corporations and politicians are variously seeking to distract, lead and mislead the narrative on climate change.
So how can environmental charities find their voice in our cluttered and polarising information landscape?
How Can Charity Language Survive the Woke Backlash?
If woke has failed, what are the consequences for charities, often regarded as the most woke storytellers around? With supporters in increasingly short supply, do they need to reframe their stories of social justice to stay relevant?
Why do Supporters Think Most Charity Brand Personalities are the Same? (And Like it That Way)
A strong brand personality gives the brand a human-like identity. So why do supporters of charities rank mundane qualities so highly?
Storytelling for Small Charities: A Lesson from Peru
My first experience of working with small purpose-led organisations was in 2010, 11,000 feet above sea level. Cusco, Peru, to be precise.