It’s simple really.
When we understand enough of someone else’s situation we are more compelled to give.
Top Three Things to Do to Create Empathy in Your Nonprofit Storytelling
- Make your story about one person, and one person only.
- Keep the facts and statistics to a minimum.
- Share your story using descriptive phrases so I CARE about the person you are describing. Word choices matter.
What is more likely to inspire aging Boomers (and others) to give more?
Talk about 84 year-old Harriett a frequent visitor to your Adult Day Center — a great grandmother who reminds you of your own mother?
Or telling people how we need to help others as they age.
It’s the story about Harriett, of course. She’s someone you can cause me to care about, not just a faceless, nameless aging person.
Click image to see full size. Image Source: Issuu.com/Georgetowncsic
In an article that recapped the research study I’m Moral, but I Won’t Help You: The Distinct Roles of Empathy and Justice in Donations I read: “Rather than appealing to a broader spectrum of moral values, messages should focus on the moral values of empathy and benevolence.”
Get your listeners and readers to CARE about the person you are describing and to IDENTIFY with them.
REMEMBER:
Sympathy = Distance
Empathy = Connection
To kick start your empathy-building storytelling, I’ve collected list of 100 Emotionally Connecting Words. Download the list by clicking here.
Really great tips, thanks !
Thank you, Bert! And thank you for the work you do.