Regional Story Labs

Join us for this two-day workshop, a rare opportunity to dig deep into the how, what and why of visual storytelling by focusing on the real-world skills needed for creating beautiful photographs and compelling written storylines. Come explore and practice how a harmonious marriage of text and image allows your nonprofit stories to fully live and breathe and connect your communities through action.

Learn the art and tech of audio storytelling for interviews, podcasts, social media and more. Practice recording short audio pieces and learn about options for editing and sharing your work. Discuss strategies and best practices for telling audio stories with inspiring examples.

Learn the why, how, and best practices for getting your story to your ideal audience through short videos and animations. Presenters will share examples, best practices, affordable tools, and provide time for hands-on experimentation.

This interactive lab will guide participants through the basics of storytelling and focus on the most effective ways to craft and share their organization’s stories.

Simplify the storytelling process and elevate your communications by learning how to gather all elements into one place. In this lab we will share tools to help you stay organized such as…

Learn how to use storytelling + organizational skills to elevate and celebrate your mission. In this workshop, you will create a storytelling campaign that helps you share your nonprofit’s mission and inspire others. This workshop is your number-one stop for comingling storytelling with organizational realties and deadlines.

This interactive course will guide participants through the nuts and bolts of storytelling and focus on the most effective ways to craft and share their own stories…

Do your direct-mail fundraising appeals seem flat and uninspiring? Are you looking to create compelling, story-centered appeals that move supporters to donate? And how do you decide which organizational story to highlight anyway? This lab session will showcase a variety of diverse story-based appeals as strong examples using various layouts and designs…

In the ever-evolving world of multimedia storytelling, it’s hard to know which platform will best convey social impact, inspiration, education, or just plain entertainment. This intermediate workshop will provide insight into various media platforms, their main use and how to leverage the uniqueness of each to provide a comprehensive and immersive mission-driven narrative for your organization…

Communication has changed drastically with the evolution of digital media. On digital platforms, “paying to play” may work for big brands, but when it comes to causes, people are looking to those they trust to help guide their clicking, giving, and volunteering decisions. This workshop will focus on the intersection of storytelling and social media, which plays a big part in the “influencer economy.”

Help your organization tell its story on social media through the powerful medium of video – no film degree necessary. Use video-making tools and simple strategies to make vibrant videos for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Your participants, donors and volunteers serve as your nonprofit’s most important ambassadors; each one has a compelling story to tell that highlights your organization’s value. Learn how to create these poignant profile-stories for your website, social media platforms, and fundraising campaigns.

Learn how to amplify and elevate your message by leveraging social media, thought leaders, and community influencers. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll create integrated marketing campaigns that tap into the latest communications strategies to tell your story and change the world.

Do you want to learn how stories can help strengthen your nonprofit’s communications, outreach and fundraising efforts?

This Story Lab aims to offer a space where we can highlight the breadth of services provided by our fellow Vermont nonprofits, and develop creative ways to follow our missions using narrative, storytelling approaches.

Learn from a veteran journalist and nonprofit development & communications director how to share your story effectively with traditional media outlets. Find out how to write and communicate your nonprofit’s mission, program results, and events so they help you get out the word.

Try out stories ideas you want to pitch to the media! Learn pre-writing story short-cuts. Evaluate when a photo/caption-but-NO-story might be the best approach. Come meet your colleagues who also write the PR and do the fund raising. Let’s collaborate, not compete!

At the heart of your work as a nonprofit communicator is the powerful mission-driven story that your organization has to share. How effectively are you bringing that story to funders, grantors, businesses, and individual donors so that they feel moved to support your work over the long-term?

Learn to create short videos using technology you already own such as mobile phones and iPods. Join Mary Rizos, of the Vermont Folklife Center, for an introduction to ethnography as a powerful tool in the documentation of voices, histories and community stories.

Get started telling your organization’s story online and via video. Learn strategies for reaching your audience and explore digital media tools that elevate and amplify your story. RETN’s Gine Ferrara and Ross Ransom will share great examples and provide a basic toolkit for getting started.

At the heart of your work as a nonprofit communicator is the powerful mission-driven story that your organization has to share. How effectively are you bringing that story to funders, grantors, businesses, and individual donors so that they feel moved to support your work over the long-term?