How can nonprofits tell powerful, compelling stories without compromising the dignity of the people they serve?
In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, I welcome Carly Euler, Marketing Director at MemoryFox and creator of the Ethical Storytelling Report. With a rich background in fundraising, marketing, and communications across organizations like the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and the BOMA Project, Carly has seen firsthand how storytelling can both uplift and unintentionally harm.
We dive into Carly’s recent article, “I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me: Stories Can Be Ethical & Still Raise Funds,” and unpack the fundraising industry’s overreliance on trauma-driven narratives. Carly shares a powerful personal moment that reshaped how she approaches storytelling, and offers tangible strategies for nonprofit professionals who want to center consent, agency, and dignity while still driving results.
🎧 In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Why “trauma-forward” storytelling is so common—and so problematic
- The key elements of ethical storytelling
- Highlights from the 2023 Ethical Storytelling Report
- How to give story subjects real agency (even on a small budget)
- Building trust and long-term relationships through dignified narratives
🧰 Resources & Links
- Web: https://www.memoryfox.io/ethical-storytelling/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-euler-53a0b776/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carly_memfox
- 2024 MemoryFox Ethical Storytelling Report
🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷
What if we named things for what they're not? We'd give teachers non-apples and fly non-cars. Ridiculous, right? So why is your world-changing organization called a "nonprofit"? Truth is you're for-purpose. And the more you raise, recruit, and retain, the more good you can do.
That's where Bloomerang comes in. Bloomerang's Giving Platform is built for purpose, with easy-to-use tools and powerful insights that help you understand your donors better than ever and unleash generosity! (Slightly faster, more energetic) Imagine... spending less time on admin tasks and more time on what matters: your mission. Bloomerang customers raise an average of 26% more!
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