Written by: Vickie Sullivan | May 25, 2017
How to Stand Out When Everyone Looks the Same
Many non-profits face the same challenge as their for-profit colleagues: how to stand out in a sea of good causes. Especially when every non-profit has killer anecdotes of need and impact.
In the era of personal stories and dress-up galas, heart tugging isn’t enough. This Fast Company article outlines how Charity: Water’s annual gala went above and beyond the standard format. The best take-aways for the rest of us:
• From stories to real-time experience. Yes, the gala had profiles of the residents at each table. But the stories were a springboard for the real-time video from the stage. The stories primed the pump (pun intended). So, ask yourself: How can my stories be a conduit for something else?
Listen: 2 ways to create momentum
• Combine story with a small ask. Another great idea: Tell a personal story, then make a small request. The $30 donation was certainly doable. And watching the photos light up from the stage created momentum, as well as positive peer pressure. Ask yourself: Do I always have a next step?
This charity stood out because it created an innovative gala experience.
Using the tools of attention getting is a great first step. But how standard tactics springboard into something unique—that’s how you can rise above the chorus and get the attention you deserve.
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