Why Your Story Matters More Than Ever
Strong storytelling is one of the most powerful tools nonprofits have to raise awareness, build trust, and secure the resources needed to sustain their work. In today’s crowded funding and media landscape, how you tell your story matters just as much as what you do.
At CVNC, we often see organizations doing impactful work—but struggling to communicate it clearly and consistently. That’s why we developed our Communication Strengths Scan: a practical tool to help nonprofits understand what’s working across their communications and where there’s opportunity to strengthen their story.
What Effective Storytelling Is Built On
The scan focuses on a few core areas that, together, shape how your organization shows up in the world:
Clear Foundations
A concise mission that names who you serve, what you do, and the change you’re working toward
Consistent messaging that staff, board members, and supporters can easily repeat
Clear calls to action that tell people exactly how to engage or support your work
Aligned Materials
Branding that looks and sounds consistent across platforms
Collateral (flyers, emails, grant applications, reports) that is current, accurate, and aligned
Stories and testimonials that center community voices and real outcomes
Strong Digital Presence
A mobile-friendly website with clear key pages
Accurate, up-to-date social media profiles
Working links, donation forms, and sign-up tools that make engagement easy
Accessibility & Learning
Materials that are accessible, inclusive, and compliant
Simple tracking of website traffic, email engagement, and social reach to learn what resonates
Turning Insight Into Action
The goal of the Communication Strengths Scan isn’t perfection—it’s focus. Once opportunity areas are identified, organizations are encouraged to set one clear, achievable goal for the next month. That might look like:
Refreshing a mission statement
Creating a small bank of approved testimonials
Updating email templates to better reflect your brand
Clarifying your primary call to action across platforms
For organizations that want deeper support, CVNC partners directly with nonprofits to strengthen storytelling, fundraising communications, and board engagement—helping turn strong narratives into sustainable systems.
