How to Make Sure Your Nonprofit's Communications Are Not Reinforcing the Status Quo

Your nonprofit exists to disrupt harm, not to quietly replicate it. And yet, so many organizations, especially in fundraising and marketing, unintentionally reinforce the very systems of oppression they’re trying to dismantle.

When communications are driven by donor comfort instead of community truth, they can reinforce white saviorism, extractive storytelling, and narratives that individualize harm rather than reveal systemic causes.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here’s how to make sure your nonprofit’s storytelling is truly serving your mission, not the status quo:

1. Name the Systems, Not Just the Symptoms
Instead of saying: "These kids need help," say: "Our public education system is failing Black and brown students because it was never designed for equity."

Fundraising and comms materials should call out the systems causing harm: white supremacy, settler colonialism, patriarchy, capitalism. Otherwise, we risk leaving supporters with the impression that harm is random or rooted in individual choices.

2. Shift the Hero in the Story
Don’t position your organization or your donors as the savior. Instead, highlight the leadership and resilience of the people and communities most impacted.

Your organization may be the bridge, but the people are the power.

3. Speak from Vision, Not Just Crisis
Yes, we need to name what’s wrong. But we also need to help people imagine what could be.

Instead of constantly communicating from emergency mode, use your storytelling to show what your organization is building: care networks, community-led housing models, trauma-informed classrooms, mutual aid infrastructure.

This is how you invite people into movements, not just moments.

4. Ask Yourself: Who Is This For?
Before publishing any content, ask:

• Are we centering community voice or donor comfort?

• Are we making it easy for people to feel pity or to feel connected and called into action?

• Would someone impacted by this issue feel honored by the way this story is told?

If the answer is no, it’s time to rework it.

5. Use Communications to Build Power
Your comms shouldn’t just explain your work. They should expand your work.

Use storytelling to:

• Help people connect the dots between personal struggles and systemic injustice

• Celebrate wins and organize around calls to action

• Seed liberatory visions and shift collective beliefs about what’s possible

Your story isn’t just about visibility. It’s about power.

The Bottom Line:
If your nonprofit’s communications are only reinforcing the status quo, you’re leaving power (and possibility) on the table.

At Awake Storytelling, we help organizations create visionary narratives that center community, challenge oppression, and grow movements for collective liberation.

Want to tell stories that don’t just raise money, but build power?
Let’s talk.

Beyond the Ask: Using Storytelling to Mobilize Resources for Change

Too often, nonprofit fundraising treats storytelling as a tool to convince donors to give—focusing on polished success stories, emotional appeals, or urgent crises. But what if storytelling could do more than just persuade? What if it could transform the way people relate to your work, deepening their commitment to systemic change rather than just prompting a one-time donation?

At Awake Storytelling, we believe fundraising is not just about securing financial support—it’s about building a movement. And movement-building requires storytelling that does more than tug at heartstrings. It requires stories that educate, inspire, and invite people into collective action.

The Problem with Traditional Nonprofit Fundraising Narratives

Many nonprofit fundraising stories fall into patterns shaped by the capitalist charity model, including:

• Centering donors as the heroes – Stories that emphasize the donor’s role in “saving” someone, rather than uplifting the leadership and power of impacted communities.

• Focusing on individual success over systemic change – Narratives that highlight one person’s resilience while ignoring the oppressive systems that create the need for nonprofits in the first place.

• Using scarcity and crisis to drive urgency – Messages that rely on fear or guilt to generate donations, rather than fostering long-term investment in a vision for justice.

These approaches may raise money in the short term, but they do little to shift power or mobilize people for real transformation.

A Different Approach: Storytelling that Mobilizes Resources for Justice

Instead of transactional fundraising, nonprofits can use storytelling to cultivate true solidarity—inviting donors to see themselves as part of a broader movement for justice. This means:

• Shifting from charity to solidarity – Instead of telling stories that position donors as benevolent givers, tell stories that frame giving as an act of redistribution and shared responsibility.

• Naming systems of oppression – Be clear about the root causes of injustice and invite donors to fund solutions that challenge these systems, not just treat symptoms.

• Painting a vision of possibility – Stories should not only highlight suffering but also illuminate the liberatory futures your organization is working toward.

• Inviting donors into a deeper relationship – Fundraising is not just about money; it’s about aligning values, building relationships, and creating lasting commitment to the work.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Instead of asking, “How do we tell a story that makes people donate?”, ask:

• How do we tell stories that help people see their stake in liberation?

• How do we invite donors to act not out of guilt, but out of a commitment to justice?

• How do we use storytelling to shift narratives, not just raise money?

By making these shifts, nonprofit storytelling can move beyond transactional fundraising and become a tool for true movement-building.

At Awake Storytelling, we create videos that help nonprofits mobilize resources while staying true to their values. If your organization is ready to move beyond the limitations of traditional fundraising storytelling, we’d love to collaborate.

Let’s tell stories that don’t just raise money—let’s tell stories that build power.

What We Believe: Storytelling for Collective Liberation

At Awake Storytelling, we believe storytelling is more than just a tool for marketing—it is a catalyst for justice, a force for movement-building, and a means to shift culture toward liberation. The stories we tell shape the world we live in, and we are committed to crafting narratives that not only raise resources but also seed visions of possibility, challenge systems of oppression, and inspire action.

Storytelling as a Tool for Justice and Movement-Building

We believe that stories have the power to ignite change. Through video storytelling, we help nonprofits and grassroots organizations share narratives that illuminate injustice, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire people to take action. Our work isn’t just about telling stories—it’s about building movements and strengthening collective power.

Fundraising as Part of Systemic Change, Not Just a Financial Transaction

Raising money is critical for nonprofits, but fundraising should do more than just bring in dollars—it should advance the mission. We believe fundraising can be part of movement-building when it’s rooted in values, integrity, and a vision for systemic change. The right story doesn’t just compel people to give; it invites them into a movement for justice and transformation.

Centering Community Accountability Over Donor Appeasement

Nonprofits often struggle with balancing donor expectations with their mission and values. We believe organizations should be accountable first and foremost to the communities they serve—not to funders who may be invested in the status quo. The stories we craft help nonprofits stand in their truth, stay accountable to their mission, and inspire donors who genuinely believe in their work.

Challenging Oppressive Narratives and Seeding Liberatory Visions

Too often, storytelling in the nonprofit world reinforces saviorism, white supremacy, and narratives of scarcity. We reject those harmful tropes. Instead, we create stories that honor dignity, uplift resilience, and center collective power. Our videos do more than document injustice—they paint bold visions of what’s possible and invite people to see themselves as part of the solution.

Mobilizing Resources to Dismantle Systems of Oppression and Build Collective Liberation

We believe that resources should flow to those doing the work of liberation. Through storytelling, we help nonprofits and grassroots organizations access the financial and community support they need to create lasting change. By crafting narratives that move hearts and mobilize action, we help shift resources toward those who are building a more just world.

Our Commitment

Awake Storytelling is more than a video production company—we are partners in liberation. We are committed to storytelling that not only raises money but also fuels movements, strengthens solidarity, and helps build the world we all deserve. We invite nonprofits to see storytelling not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of their impact. Together, we can tell the stories that change everything.

Let’s tell the stories that fund change and fuel liberation.

10 Questions to Ask If You Want to Expand Your Impact Through Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools nonprofits have to mobilize resources, build movements, and create lasting change. But effective storytelling requires intention, strategy, and a commitment to narratives that center justice and collective liberation. If you want to ensure your storytelling fuels real impact, start by asking yourself these ten questions:

1. Who is centered in our stories?

Are we elevating the voices and experiences of impacted communities, or are we prioritizing the perspectives of donors, funders, or staff? True impact comes from stories that empower communities rather than frame them as passive recipients of aid.

2. What systems of oppression shape the experiences in our stories?

Are we naming capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy, and colonialism as the root causes of injustice, or are we depoliticizing our narratives? To create real change, our stories must expose and challenge systemic harm.

3. Are we portraying people with dignity, agency, and complexity?

Are we avoiding pity-driven narratives that reduce people to their suffering? Impactful storytelling presents people as whole, nuanced individuals who are active participants in shaping their own futures.

4. What emotions are we evoking—and why?

Are we relying on guilt or sadness to drive donations, or are we cultivating a sense of solidarity, hope, and urgency? The emotions we invoke should move people toward action that aligns with justice, not charity.

5. How does our storytelling invite people into collective action?

Are we offering clear pathways for engagement beyond financial contributions? Impactful stories mobilize people to organize, advocate, and commit to systemic change—not just donate and disengage.

6. Are we accountable to the communities we represent?

Have we sought input and consent from the people whose stories we are telling? Ethical storytelling requires accountability and transparency, ensuring that narratives serve the interests of the communities at the center of our work.

7. Are we reinforcing a scarcity mindset or an abundance mindset?

Are we framing our work as a desperate struggle for limited resources, or are we showing how collective action can create abundance? Moving beyond a scarcity mindset helps shift narratives toward empowerment and systemic change.

8. How do our stories align with movement-building efforts?

Are we connecting our storytelling to broader movements for justice, or are we operating in isolation? Effective nonprofit storytelling strengthens and uplifts the organizing work already happening on the ground.

9. Are we challenging harmful dominant narratives?

Are we countering mainstream stories that justify oppression, or are we inadvertently reinforcing them? Storytelling should disrupt harmful myths and seed liberatory visions of what is possible.

10. What impact are our stories actually having?

Are we measuring our storytelling’s effectiveness beyond short-term fundraising metrics? The true impact of a story lies in how it shifts culture, mobilizes resources for justice, and strengthens long-term movements.

Moving Forward

By asking these ten questions, nonprofit marketing managers can ensure their storytelling is not just compelling but also transformative. When we tell stories with intention, integrity, and a commitment to justice, we don’t just raise money—we build power, shift narratives, and help create a world where everyone has what they need.

At Awake Storytelling, we help nonprofits craft videos that do exactly that. Ready to expand your impact through ethical, movement-centered storytelling? Let’s talk.

5 Ways Nonprofit Marketing Managers Can Use Storytelling to Build Movements

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools nonprofit marketing managers have to drive change. When used intentionally, stories don’t just raise awareness or funds—they mobilize people, shift narratives, and help build movements for justice. But too often, storytelling in the nonprofit sector is limited by traditional fundraising approaches that focus on donor-centric narratives instead of collective liberation.

Here are five ways you can harness the power of storytelling to go beyond transactional fundraising and actively fuel movement-building.

1. Center the Voices of Impacted Communities

Too often, nonprofit stories frame the organization—or even the donor—as the hero. But real movement-building storytelling centers the people most impacted by injustice as the protagonists of their own stories.

Action Step: Prioritize first-person narratives from the communities you serve. Ensure that your storytelling process is collaborative, ethical, and honors their agency. When possible, compensate people for sharing their experiences, and give them control over how their stories are told.

2. Expose Systemic Injustice—Not Just Individual Success

Many nonprofits focus on feel-good success stories that highlight an individual overcoming adversity. While these stories may be compelling, they often obscure the systemic causes of harm and imply that personal resilience is the solution rather than systemic change.

Action Step: Name the systems of oppression at play—whether it’s capitalism, white supremacy, ableism, or colonialism. Show how these forces create the conditions that necessitate your nonprofit’s work, and position your organization as part of a broader movement working to dismantle them.

3. Use Storytelling to Mobilize Action, Not Just Emotion

Emotionally compelling stories can make people feel deeply, but feelings alone don’t create change. The most effective movement-building stories connect emotion to action—giving people clear ways to participate in collective liberation.

Action Step: End every story with a clear, concrete call to action. Invite your audience to donate, attend an event, advocate for policy change, or engage in mutual aid. Show them how they can be part of the story, not just passive consumers of it.

4. Shift from Scarcity Narratives to Abundance & Solidarity

Many nonprofits unintentionally reinforce a scarcity mindset by telling stories that frame their communities as helpless and desperate. This reinforces harmful power dynamics and the idea that charity is the only solution, rather than collective redistribution of resources and power.

Action Step: Tell stories that emphasize community strength, resilience, and solidarity. Show how movements are growing, how collective care creates change, and how mutual aid and grassroots organizing are already building the world we want to see.

5. Align Storytelling with Movement Goals, Not Just Fundraising

Nonprofits often craft stories to appeal to funders, which can mean avoiding politically charged language or watering down systemic critiques. But movement-building storytelling is about accountability to communities first, not donors.

Action Step: Ensure that your organization’s storytelling aligns with and uplifts broader justice movements. Be unapologetic about your values. If funders or donors are uncomfortable with the truth, ask whether they are truly aligned with the vision of justice your organization stands for.

The Power of Storytelling for Liberation

Storytelling has the power to shift culture, change minds, and mobilize people toward action. As a nonprofit marketing manager, you are in a unique position to use storytelling not just to sustain your organization, but to fuel real, systemic change.

By centering impacted voices, naming systems of oppression, mobilizing action, rejecting scarcity narratives, and aligning with movement goals, you can transform your nonprofit’s storytelling from a fundraising tool into a force for liberation.

Are you ready to tell stories that build movements?

Why Our Clients Love Working With Awake Storytelling

At Awake Storytelling, we pour our hearts into every project, crafting videos that move people to tears, open their wallets, and grow movements. But don’t just take our word for it—hear what our clients have to say about working with us:

“I had a chance to share the final video with our entire community and everyone was blown away! You make beautiful things, and I am so happy we had a chance to work together.”

“I’ve got tears in my eyes and goosebumps on my arms :) Thank you so much for all your hard work on this, the story was told beautifully!”

“We LOVE the videos you've made for us. We use them constantly, and more than anything else they help people understand our work. It’s the most amazing tool.”

What Sets Awake Storytelling Apart?

• Deep Listening & Intuition – We create a space where people feel safe to share their truths.

• Soulful Creation – Our videos don’t just inform, they move people.

• Strategic Impact – Every video is designed to fuel fundraising and advocacy efforts.

“It’s seriously a dream to work together on this project, and to have the level of TRUST I have in you.”

“Your skill in getting people to share from their depth is astonishing! You are a pro with a big heart!”

We are honored to work alongside organizations fighting for justice. If you’re ready to create powerful video storytelling that fuels movements, let’s connect.

Let’s tell stories that transform the world.

Beyond the Capitalist Charity Model: Rethinking Nonprofit Storytelling for Collective Liberation

For too long, nonprofit storytelling has been shaped by the constraints of the capitalist charity model—a model that prioritizes donor satisfaction over systemic change, individual success stories over collective struggle, and immediate funding goals over long-term liberation. But what if our storytelling could do more than just raise money? What if it could help dismantle the very systems that make nonprofits necessary in the first place?

The Limits of Traditional Nonprofit Storytelling

Nonprofit storytelling has largely been shaped by a funding system that requires organizations to appeal to those with money—often wealthy donors, philanthropic foundations, or corporate sponsors. This has led to harmful patterns in nonprofit narratives, including:

• Centering donors instead of impacted communities: Many stories frame donors as the heroes, reinforcing power imbalances instead of addressing the root causes of injustice.

• Focusing on individual resilience over systemic oppression: By uplifting feel-good success stories, nonprofits often obscure the broader conditions that make their work necessary.

• Depoliticizing struggle: Many nonprofits avoid naming the systemic forces—capitalism, white supremacy, colonialism, patriarchy—that perpetuate harm, fearing that political clarity will alienate funders.

This model asks nonprofits to survive within an unjust system rather than challenge the system itself. But storytelling has the power to do more.

Storytelling as a Tool for Collective Liberation

What if we used nonprofit storytelling not just to sustain organizations, but to mobilize movements? What if instead of catering to donor expectations, we told stories that empowered communities, exposed injustice, and fueled systemic change?

Liberatory storytelling within the nonprofit sector means:

• Centering impacted communities as the protagonists of their own stories: Not as passive recipients of charity, but as agents of change who are leading the fight for justice.

• Naming oppressive systems explicitly: Instead of vague narratives about “overcoming adversity,” we must identify capitalism, colonialism, and white supremacy as the forces that create suffering.

• Framing fundraising as movement-building: Asking for money is not just about organizational survival—it’s about redistributing resources to fuel resistance, solidarity, and systemic change.

• Shifting from scarcity to abundance: The charity model relies on a mindset of scarcity, where nonprofits compete for limited resources. A liberatory approach recognizes that our collective liberation is interconnected and that building power together is the path to abundance.

What This Looks Like in Practice

• Radical Transparency: Instead of tailoring messaging to avoid upsetting funders, nonprofits can be upfront about the systemic change they are working toward.

• Community-Led Narratives: Prioritizing stories created by and for impacted communities, rather than filtering them through the lens of donor expectations.

• Accountability to Movements: Ensuring that nonprofit messaging aligns with and uplifts broader social movements, rather than sanitizing narratives for palatability.

At Awake Storytelling, we are committed to using video as a tool for collective liberation. We believe that nonprofit storytelling can and must go beyond the capitalist charity model. We don’t just create fundraising videos—we create movement-building tools. We craft narratives that expose injustice, seed liberatory visions, and mobilize people to act.

If you’re a nonprofit leader or marketing manager, we invite you to rethink the way your organization tells its story. Not just to secure the next grant cycle, but to build the world we actually want to live in.

Are you ready to tell stories that move beyond charity and toward liberation?

How can Storytelling be a part of Interrupting Capitalism, White supremacy and Patriarchy?

Storytelling is a powerful tool for interrupting capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy because it disrupts dominant narratives, builds collective power, and makes liberation feel possible. Here’s how:

1. Disrupting the Narrative of Power

Capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy all rely on stories that justify oppression—stories that say poverty is an individual failure, white dominance is natural, and gender oppression is inevitable. Storytelling can:

• Expose systemic injustices rather than personalizing struggles.

• Challenge respectability politics by amplifying voices often silenced.

• Reclaim history by centering the experiences of marginalized communities.

🔹 Example: A storytelling project that shares the histories of Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities from their own perspectives, countering the whitewashed narratives taught in schools.

2. Shifting Who Holds Power

Under capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy, power is concentrated in the hands of a few. Storytelling redistributes power by:

• Centering community wisdom over institutional authority.

• Prioritizing stories of mutual aid and collective care over rugged individualism.

• Reframing who is seen as a leader, showing that those directly impacted by injustice are already leading.

🔹 Example: A nonprofit shifting from donor-centric storytelling (where wealthy funders are the heroes) to solidarity storytelling, where impacted communities lead the narrative.

3. Making Liberation Feel Possible

These oppressive systems rely on convincing people that nothing can change—that capitalism is inevitable, racism is too deeply rooted, and gender oppression is just how things are. Storytelling disrupts this by:

• Painting visions of possibility, showing that alternatives exist.

• Highlighting movement victories to remind people that change is happening.

• Fostering emotional connection, making liberation feel personal and urgent.

🔹 Example: A video campaign highlighting successful worker cooperatives, showing that we don’t have to accept exploitation as the only way to structure an economy.

4. Mobilizing Resources for Liberation

Fundraising and resource mobilization often reinforce oppressive systems by catering to wealthy donors. Storytelling can shift how we fund liberation by:

• Appealing to values of solidarity, not charity.

• Encouraging grassroots funding models, like community-led giving circles or mutual aid.

• Making it clear that investing in justice is not about pity—it’s about shared liberation.

🔹 Example: A fundraising campaign that directly names capitalism as the root cause of homelessness and invites people to fund systemic solutions, not just short-term relief.

5. Interrupting Extractive Storytelling

Capitalism turns even suffering into a commodity—trauma is packaged for donor appeal, pain is extracted for engagement. Ethical storytelling interrupts this by:

• Ensuring informed consent and co-creating narratives with those being represented.

• Refusing to exploit trauma for fundraising.

• Prioritizing dignity and agency in how stories are told and shared.

🔹 Example: Instead of a nonprofit sharing a tear-jerking story about a struggling single mother to get donations, they collaborate with her to tell a story of resistance, resilience, and systemic injustice.

The Bottom Line: Storytelling is a Tool for Organizing

Storytelling alone doesn’t dismantle capitalism, white supremacy, or patriarchy—but it fuels the movements that do. It sparks political awakenings, shifts culture, builds community, and redistributes power. When done intentionally, it’s not just about raising awareness—it’s about mobilizing people to take action.

🚀 Call to Action:What stories are you telling? Who benefits from them? And how can you use storytelling as a tool for liberation?

Fundraising as Movement-Building: How Nonprofits Can Tell Stories That Inspire Systemic Change

For many nonprofits, fundraising is a necessary function—but what if it could be more than that? What if fundraising wasn’t just about securing financial support but about mobilizing people to be part of a broader movement for justice? At Awake Storytelling, we believe fundraising can be a powerful tool for systemic change when paired with ethical, movement-driven storytelling.

Fundraising Beyond Transactions

Traditional fundraising often treats donations as a simple transaction—give money, feel good, move on. But when storytelling connects fundraising to a larger vision, donors begin to see themselves as active participants in the work. Instead of just giving, they invest in a cause and become part of a movement.

Telling Stories That Mobilize

A compelling story doesn’t just ask for money—it calls people into action. Effective fundraising storytelling should:

• Show the root causes of injustice, not just surface-level symptoms.

• Inspire people to see themselves as co-conspirators in change.

• Connect donations to tangible impact and long-term transformation.

Building Relationships, Not Just Raising Money

When nonprofits use storytelling to build relationships rather than just secure one-time gifts, they cultivate deeper engagement, trust, and sustained support. People don’t just want to give—they want to be part of something bigger. Storytelling can make that possible.

Let’s tell stories that don’t just raise money—they raise movements.

Beyond the Bottom Line: Why Nonprofits Should Be Accountable to Communities, Not Just Donors

Nonprofits exist to serve communities, but in a sector reliant on donor funding, it’s easy to feel pressured to prioritize donor expectations over community needs. While fundraising is necessary, true impact happens when nonprofits remain accountable to the people they serve rather than compromising their values for the sake of financial security.

The Pitfalls of Donor-Driven Storytelling

Many nonprofits shape their messaging to appeal to donors, sometimes at the cost of authenticity. This can lead to oversimplified narratives, poverty porn, or messaging that centers donors as saviors rather than communities as agents of their own change. When organizations tailor their stories to please funders, they risk reinforcing the very systems they seek to dismantle.

Shifting Accountability to Communities

Nonprofits can reclaim their integrity by centering the voices and needs of the communities they work with. This means co-creating stories with those directly impacted, being transparent about funding sources, and ensuring that fundraising narratives do not exploit or misrepresent the people they serve.

Fundraising That Aligns with Values

Nonprofits do not have to choose between financial sustainability and ethical storytelling. When organizations prioritize storytelling that is truthful, empowering, and accountable to their communities, they attract donors who genuinely align with their mission. Values-driven fundraising is not just possible—it’s essential.

The Nonprofit Dilemma

Too often, nonprofits find themselves in a bind: relying on funding from donors who may be invested in the very systems they seek to dismantle. Many organizations soften their messaging to avoid alienating wealthy supporters, prioritizing financial sustainability over bold truth-telling.

But what if we didn’t have to choose? What if nonprofits could fund their work without compromising their values—while actively challenging capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy?

To do this, we must rethink three key areas:

1. Who we see as stakeholders

2. How we ask for support

3. How we tell our stories

1. Shifting Who We See as Stakeholders

Most nonprofits default to centering wealthy donors as their primary stakeholders. But who else has a stake in liberation?

✅ The communities we serve – They should be at the center of decision-making, not just recipients of aid.
✅ Grassroots donors & movement supporters – Small-dollar donors, volunteers, and community partners can create collective power when engaged intentionally.
✅ Non-traditional funders – Unions, worker cooperatives, and mutual aid networks are increasingly investing in liberation work.

🔹 How to shift your approach:

• Move beyond an extractive fundraising model where communities are showcased for donations but excluded from decision-making.

• Build multi-stakeholder funding models where grassroots donors and movement partners have more influence.

• Challenge the idea that philanthropy must come from the top down—explore funding models like participatory grantmaking and cooperative fundraising.

2. Shifting How We Ask for Support

Many nonprofits fear losing funding if they speak too boldly about dismantling oppression. But there’s a way to invite donors into transformation instead of watering down your message.

🔹 How to shift your approach:

• Frame fundraising as movement-building. Instead of “please donate,” say:
  “Be part of resourcing the future we deserve.”

• Engage donors as allies, not saviors. Instead of centering their generosity, highlight their role in redistributing wealth and power.

• Offer donors a political education. Many people who have wealth never interrogate how they got it. What if your nonprofit’s messaging helped donors recognize the need to fund systemic change, not just charity?

💡 Example: Instead of…

“For just $25, you can change a child’s future.”

Try…

“Every child deserves a future free from poverty—but that takes more than charity. It takes structural change. Invest in a movement that’s building real solutions.”

3. Shifting How We Tell Our Stories

Stories have power. They can uphold the status quo or challenge it. Many nonprofits unintentionally tell stories that:

• Depict marginalized people as passive victims instead of active agents of change.

• Cater to wealthy donors by making them feel like heroes.

• Avoid naming the root causes of systemic injustice.

🔹 How to shift your approach:

• Center community leadership. Highlight how people impacted by oppression are already fighting for change, rather than just showing their suffering.

• Tell stories that challenge harmful narratives. Instead of portraying poverty as an individual failure, make systemic injustice visible.

• Use storytelling as an organizing tool. Stories should do more than evoke pity—they should invite people to take action.

💡 Example: Instead of…

“Maria is struggling to feed her children. Your donation will help.”

Try…

“Maria is organizing with her neighbors to demand fair wages. Join her in the fight for economic justice.”

Storytelling as a Strategy for Liberation

If we’re serious about dismantling capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy, we have to fund liberation in new ways. That means rethinking:

• Who we see as stakeholders (centering community power, not just wealthy donors).

• How we ask for support (inviting donors into a transformative movement, not charity).

• How we tell our stories (challenging harmful narratives instead of reinforcing them).

At Awake Storytelling, we help nonprofits create powerful fundraising and advocacy videos that mobilize resources without compromising their values. Ready to explore what that could look like for your organization? Let’s connect.

How Storytelling Interrupts Systems of Oppression

Storytelling is more than just a communication tool—it is a powerful force that can disrupt systems of oppression and create pathways to justice. The narratives we uplift shape our understanding of the world, and too often, dominant storytelling reinforces harmful hierarchies, white supremacy, and capitalist exploitation. But when used intentionally, storytelling can be a tool for liberation.

Exposing Injustice and Centering Truth

Oppression thrives on misinformation, silencing, and erasure. Storytelling has the power to expose injustices that might otherwise remain hidden, to amplify marginalized voices, and to make inequities undeniable. A well-crafted video can give viewers an intimate look at the real impact of systemic harm and compel them to act.

Challenging Dominant Narratives

Nonprofits and grassroots organizations often have to navigate mainstream narratives that favor charity over justice, reinforce saviorism, or depict communities in need as helpless. We believe in crafting stories that honor dignity, highlight collective power, and challenge these harmful perspectives.

Seeding New Visions of Liberation

It’s not enough to expose oppression—we must also tell stories that help us imagine a different future. Liberatory storytelling paints a picture of what is possible, inviting people to see themselves as part of the change. When we tell stories that center care, solidarity, and transformation, we help build the world we want to live in.

Nonprofit Storytelling in the Face of Fascism: Strategy in the Trump Era

The return of Donald Trump to the presidency signals an escalation of authoritarianism, white nationalism, and systemic violence. For nonprofits working toward justice, this raises urgent questions: How should we spend our energy? How reactive should we be? Should we center each harmful policy, or focus on the broader systems that have allowed this moment to arise?

The reality is that nonprofit storytelling cannot afford to be neutral. Silence is complicity. But at the same time, constantly reacting to the latest crisis can keep us stuck in a cycle of urgency that prevents deeper, long-term movement building. Here’s how nonprofits can craft a storytelling strategy that meets the moment without losing sight of the bigger fight for liberation.

1. Name the Reality—Without Normalizing It

Nonprofits must be willing to name the resurgence of fascism, white supremacy, and state violence under Trump’s administration. But we must do so in a way that contextualizes this moment in history, rather than treating it as an isolated aberration. The roots of these oppressive systems stretch back far beyond Trump—colonialism, racial capitalism, and patriarchal violence are foundational to the U.S.

2. Balance Reaction with Vision

It’s easy to get caught in the rapid-response cycle, constantly responding to the latest policy attack, hate crime, or rollback of rights. But nonprofits should ask: Does reacting to each new headline serve our long-term vision? The goal should be to expose harm while staying committed to a larger strategy. Instead of solely responding to each crisis, nonprofits should consistently uplift the world we are fighting for—one rooted in justice, care, and collective liberation.

3. Make the Connection Between Policy and Systemic Oppression

Instead of focusing on Trump as an individual, nonprofits should expose how his administration’s actions fit into the larger structures of white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy. Policies like family separation at the border, attacks on reproductive rights, and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation are not just “Trump policies”—they are expressions of deeply entrenched systemic oppression. Nonprofit storytelling should illuminate these connections.

4. Stay Focused on Your Movement’s Role

Every nonprofit has a specific mission—whether it's housing justice, racial equity, workers’ rights, or environmental justice. While it’s tempting to weigh in on every injustice, organizations should remain grounded in their movement’s role. How does your organization’s work intersect with this political moment? How does it advance liberation beyond Trump? Let these questions guide your messaging.

5. Uplift Organizing, Not Just Despair

Trumpism thrives on fear and demoralization. To counteract this, nonprofit storytelling must highlight resistance, resilience, and collective action. Show people how they can plug into movements. Remind them that history is full of moments where oppressed communities fought back—and won.

6. Speak Truth to Power—Even When It Risks Funding

Many nonprofits fear alienating donors by taking bold political stances. But catering messaging to appease funders rather than staying accountable to movements can ultimately weaken our work. Now is not the time for watered-down messaging. If a donor withdraws support because your organization names white supremacy, state violence, or the need to dismantle oppressive systems, then that donor was never aligned with the movement to begin with.

7. Don’t Fall into the “Lesser Evil” Trap

It can be tempting to frame Trump as the singular enemy while treating more “moderate” politicians as allies. But liberalism and centrism have also upheld the status quo of violence and exploitation. Anyone witnessing the genocide of Palestinians conducted by Joe Biden & the Democratic party has been reminded of that. Nonprofit storytelling should not simply advocate for returning to a pre-Trump normal, but instead push for transformational change beyond the limits of electoral politics.

8. Ground Messaging in Collective Care and Solidarity

In times of increased state repression, messaging that fosters collective care is essential. How can your nonprofit’s storytelling cultivate solidarity across movements? How can it remind people that liberation is not an individual endeavor, but a shared struggle?

9. Acknowledge Fascism, But Don’t Let It Define the Narrative

Yes, we are fighting against fascism. But we are also fighting for something—justice, liberation, self-determination. Nonprofit storytelling should not solely focus on what we are resisting, but also on the alternatives we are building.

10. Use Storytelling as a Tool for Mobilization

Ultimately, nonprofit storytelling must inspire action. Every video, campaign, and story should invite people to participate in movement work. Whether that means joining a direct action, redistributing resources, or supporting grassroots organizers, storytelling should make clear that another world is not only necessary—it is possible, and we are building it together.

Final Thoughts

Trump’s presidency will escalate violence against marginalized communities, but it is not the beginning of oppression—nor will it be the end. Nonprofits have a responsibility to tell the truth about this moment while resisting the pull toward reactive storytelling that obscures long-term movement building.

Now is the time to be bold, to name the systems at play, and to tell stories that do more than react—they must mobilize, radicalize, and bring us closer to liberation.

The Largest Project I've Ever Completed

As I wrap up the largest project I’ve ever taken on, I’m so proud of myself for all the focus, dedication, and commitment it took to see this project through. The videos for the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers - seven training videos around 45 minutes each (packed with stories, animation, and b-roll) and a 15-minute overview video - are a dynamic body of work on how to build a comprehensive, therapeutic support system for survivors of interpersonal violence - especially focused on serving people most harmed by systems of oppression.

While the full training series remains private, I’m honored to share this overview video, which offers a glimpse into the vital work of Trauma Recovery Centers nationwide.

💛 Watch this video to learn how TRCs provide holistic, survivor-centered care—and why expanding access to these resources is essential for breaking cycles of violence and building a world where healing is possible.

Last week, I looked at the pre-production documents I had created for this project over a year ago. Just getting to the point of being ready to interview over 30 people took a level of coordination and forethought that resulted in two bound books of pre-production documents. Then, interviewing 30 people. Then, organizing the footage and weaving together each of the 8 videos. Creating a chorus of voices that can build meaning together. Creating animated graphics for each concept. Getting in the mind of the audience and figuring out how to build their understanding step by step. Adding b-roll, music, subtitles. Working on flow and pacing. Then, 24 rounds of revisions across all the videos. Every step of this process took a willingness to focus on the next step and not get overwhelmed by the whole. 

As I edited the final video this past week, I teared up. The messages in the video align so deeply with what I believe. This year has been an intense year of grief. In the midst of losing my Uncle Joe, having another loved one die, and witnessing the genocide in Palestine, this project has been a powerful way to channel my grief and fight for a world that takes care of people harmed by violence.

In the aftermath of the violence that I’ve lived through in my life, the healing journey was mysterious and often lonely. In listening to the stories of these trauma recovery therapists and advocates, I’ve learned from their wisdom and experience. Working on this was an expression of how I’ve turned my pain into power. It’s using what I’ve learned and experienced about what survivors need in the aftermath of violence and advocating for every survivor to have their material, psychological, and social needs met. I poured my heart and soul into creating this. Creating it was an act of prayer for the world I want to live in.

The project required so much energy, focus, and commitment that now that it’s nearly over (one more small round of revisions on the last video!), my heart has new room to feel the depth of what it was all about—sharing stories that help us heal—sharing stories that help us show up for each other. Stories that help us create a world where survivors have the support they need to heal. Stories that help us re-imagine systems of harm and create social support systems that honor the sacredness of each person.

It has been a privilege and an honor to immerse myself in this work. 

Looking at the Flame

I remember the sounds of the boys in my U.S. history class in 11th grade as they laughed. Deep inside my heart, a fire rose. I could feel my hand shaking under my desk. My throat clenched. They were laughing about the atomic bomb being dropped on Japan in World War II. I couldn’t stay silent. I remember speaking with a shaking but passionate voice - saying out loud that it wasn’t funny. It was horrific. It was mass death. It was catastrophic human suffering. Those were people. I remember them laughing at me, taunting the way I spoke, turning toward each other to affirm that they were not alone in their advocacy for killing hundreds of thousands of people. Hot tears slid down my face.

It was 2005, and every day, I drove the 20-minute drive to school and listened to NPR. Every day, I heard news of a new massacre happening in Iraq by the United States military. Every day, when I heard these numbers, I tried to let those numbers translate into humans. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the depth of each world that the U.S. military had ended. To connect to the specificity of each of those human lives. To not let numbers numb me to the truth of each person’s soul. I lit a candle in my heart as I drove through suburbia.

3 years later, I had the opportunity to visit a memorial in Japan for the people murdered in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings by the United States military. It was a rainy day. A sea of hanging doves, floating, held the names of people killed. I stood there and felt the weight of the human suffering that had been inflicted by the government I was born within. The chain reactions - of radiation, on the land, on bodies and lineages were viscerally real—the true impact, beyond words.

“If the public at large accepts preventable mass deaths as inevitable, the system will maintain itself…Our oppressors rely on our hesitation to feel for one another. They rely on our suppression of empathy and grief and on the desensitization that often takes hold as a defense mechanism in the face of so much suffering. They are hoping that the battery of catastrophes we witness in real time will shorten our attention spans until the fallen are forgotten in the blink of an eye.” -Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, Let This Radicalize You

We are called to bear witness. We can turn away from the violent legacies of U.S. imperialism and live like those boys all dressed in Abercrombie who made fun of my tears and trembling voice. We can cling tightly to myths that help us collectively forget the human cost of white supremacy, capitalism, imperialism, settler colonialism and patriarchy. We can bury the realities of violence our lives are built upon. But what has been buried has not been lost.

I know what it’s like to try and advocate against the death cult that is U.S. imperialism and be met with sneers and dismissal. I know what it feels like to risk belonging because you can’t accept the normalization of mass death perpetuated casually by this government. I know what it’s like to get blank stares back when you speak up about oppression in our culture that is committed to just doing our best to have a good time. But while we live, distracted and exhausted from the rhythms of capitalism, seeking belonging amongst others living on stolen, blood-soaked land, the death machine crawls forward - scarring lands and people.

“Fortunately, the system’s reliance on us to deaden and dull our capacity for grief presents us with a lever for change. Our oppressors are wholly unprepared to confront a multiracial, intergenerational movement of people who share a loving practice of grief and who are prepared to care for one another and act in one another’s defense.” -Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, Let This Radicalize You

What if there’s a deeper belonging?

To the earth and each other.

How can we bear witness to the legacies of violence we’ve inherited? How can we interrupt them?

How can we refuse to treat genocide as ‘just something happening in the background’?

What matters more than conforming to collective silence? What if we could help each other speak louder (Or sing louder, as I’ve been experiencing in the RVA Ceasefire Choir)?

What if we could strengthen our capacity to name and be with the grief that these systems have caused?

Will you light a candle in your heart for Gaza, Sudan, Congo, Haiti, and Tigray?

Will you turn toward what -and who- has been buried?

Can you let that flame flicker in the vast dark?

Can we look at it together?

“Grief, after all, is a manifestation of love, and our capacity to grieve is in some ways proportional to our capacity to care. Grief is painful, but when we process our grief in community, we are less likely to slip into despair….Even just acknowledging that we are not alone in our grief can bring a sense of solidarity and collective strength. That strength kindles our energy to face the future, sparking the fire of hope… We must allow our grief and hope to coexist and courageously hold on to both.”

-Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, Let this Radicalize You

STORY PROMPTS:

• When you think about grief as a manifestation of love, what memories come to mind?

• Have you ever experienced sharing grief in community?  Paint a picture of that scene. What did it feel like? How did your body respond? What did it conjure in your spirit? What did it mean to you?

• When do you recall becoming aware of imperialism? What was your education like when it comes to the history of settler colonialism and genocide that are at the origin of this government on this land? What cultural myths did your history education impart and uphold? When did you become aware of how oppressive systems (capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy, settler colonialism, imperialism) are death machines? What did you learn about how imperialism functions and persists? What was it like for you to unlearn the dominant cultural narratives that your upbringing in this culture infused in you?

• When have you spoken up in the midst of a violent status quo? When have you challenged dominant narratives that normalize violence? What did it feel like in your body to challenge a power structure in real time? How did the people around you respond? What chain reactions did it set in motion?

Inviting Nonprofits to Speak Truth to Power & Stand on the Right Side of History

This weekend, I had a conversation about Palestine that left me in tears. It wasn’t just the grief of witnessing genocide unfold in real time—it was the rage and betrayal I felt as so many in my industry, in the nonprofit sector, in movement spaces, remained silent. Organizations built on missions of justice, dignity, and human rights were hesitating, avoiding, or outright refusing to acknowledge the catastrophic violence being carried out with our tax dollars.

I understand fear. Fear of losing funding. Fear of upsetting donors or board members. Fear of backlash. But I also know this: silence is complicity. And complicity, in the face of genocide, is inexcusable.

Nonprofits are supposed to be the moral backbone of our society, advocating for those most harmed by oppressive systems. Nonprofits exist because systems of power—white supremacy, colonialism, capitalism, imperialism, and patriarchy—fail people. And yet, when the moment calls for courage, too many organizations shrink back. They issue vague statements about peace while avoiding the reality of U.S.-backed military occupation and mass murder. They water down their values when those values should be guiding them to rise to the occasion.

If we are truly working toward justice, we must speak truth to power—even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it costs us. Especially then.

Where Awake Storytelling Stands

We refuse to look away. We refuse to be neutral. We refuse to prioritize comfort over justice.

At Awake Storytelling, we believe in using storytelling to fuel movements for collective liberation. That means challenging oppressive narratives, holding power to account, and mobilizing people to act. Right now, that means calling this what it is: a genocide. And demanding an end to it.

But we must go further. We oppose not just the genocide, but the settler colonial state of Israel itself. We stand for a free Palestine—from the river to the sea. We refuse to soften our language or cower in the face of propaganda that equates truth-telling with antisemitism. Zionism is not Judaism, and standing against Israel’s settler colonial project is not anti-Jewish. We stand in full solidarity with anti-Zionist Jews who are also calling for Palestinian liberation.

We believe in decolonization. We believe in land back. We believe in the right of return for all Palestinians. We believe in dismantling the violent foundations of Israel’s existence and building a future where Palestinians are free on their own land.

And we know that the struggle for Palestine is deeply connected to struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and land back everywhere. Just as Israel was founded on ethnic cleansing and land theft, so too was the United States. We reject all settler colonial states and fight for the return of stolen land—from Turtle Island to Palestine. Liberation is not selective. Justice cannot be compartmentalized. The systems that oppress Palestinians are the same systems that have dispossessed Indigenous peoples around the world. Dismantling settler colonialism anywhere means dismantling it everywhere.

An Invitation to Rise

If your organization has been afraid to speak, I invite you to step into courage. If you have remained silent, I urge you to find your voice. If you are already taking a stand, I thank you—and encourage you to go further.

Here’s what you can do:

• Name the reality: Say the word “genocide.” Say “ethnic cleansing.” Say “settler colonialism.” Say “U.S. complicity.” Say “Palestine.”

• Follow Palestinian leadership: Support and amplify grassroots Palestinian organizations and activists.

• Mobilize your community: Use your platforms to educate, advocate, and take action.

• Divest from oppression: Reevaluate where your organization’s money, partnerships, and resources are flowing.

Justice is not a brand. It is not a marketing strategy. It is a commitment that must be lived, even when it’s hard, even when it has consequences.

This is a call to action. A call to conscience. A call to choose justice over silence.

Will your organization rise to the occasion?

Fundraising in a Time of Crisis: How Nonprofits Can Tell Urgent Stories Without Fear-Mongering

When a crisis hits, nonprofits often need to raise funds quickly. The temptation can be to rely on fear-based messaging—painting a dire picture to drive immediate action. While urgency is necessary, fear-driven storytelling can lead to burnout, disempowerment, and donor fatigue. Instead, nonprofits can tell stories that inspire action while fostering hope and solidarity.

The Problem with Fear-Based Fundraising

While fear can spark short-term action, it often leaves audiences feeling helpless. People may donate once out of panic but disengage afterward, feeling overwhelmed or hopeless. Additionally, repeated fear-based messaging can contribute to a culture of scarcity rather than a belief in our collective power to create change.

How to Tell Urgent Stories Without Exploiting Fear

• Lead with impact, not just crisis – Show what’s at stake, but also what’s possible.

• Focus on collective action – Highlight how people are coming together to respond, not just what’s going wrong.

• Balance urgency with hope – Fear may prompt action, but hope sustains it.

Building Long-Term Support Through Ethical Storytelling

Crisis fundraising should not just be about securing immediate funds—it should also strengthen long-term relationships with supporters. When nonprofits tell stories that invite people into a movement rather than just a moment of panic, they build sustained commitment and deeper engagement.

Urgency doesn’t have to mean fear. Let’s tell stories that mobilize action and sustain hope.

Storytelling for Solidarity: How Nonprofits Can Build Collective Power Through Narrative

Storytelling isn’t just about raising money—it’s about building relationships, shifting culture, and strengthening movements. Nonprofits have the power to use storytelling not only to fundraise but to foster solidarity, bringing people together in collective action.

From Individual Charity to Collective Action

Traditional nonprofit storytelling often focuses on individuals—highlighting one person’s hardship and how a donor’s contribution made a difference. While this approach can be compelling, it sometimes reinforces a charity mindset rather than a movement-building one.

Solidarity-based storytelling shifts the focus from individuals in need to communities in action. It frames issues as systemic rather than personal and invites audiences to see themselves as co-creators of change, not just one-time helpers.

Telling Stories That Connect Struggles

Nonprofits working toward justice can use storytelling to show how different issues—housing, immigration, racial justice, climate justice—are interconnected. By weaving together narratives that highlight shared struggles and collective solutions, organizations can:

• Build stronger alliances across movements.

• Inspire deeper, long-term engagement.

• Shift perspectives from “us helping them” to “we’re in this together.”

How to Use Storytelling for Solidarity

• Highlight community-driven solutions – Show how people are organizing and leading their own change.

• Lift up multiple voices – Share perspectives from activists, impacted communities, and supporters working together.

• Frame stories around systems, not just symptoms – Connect personal experiences to the larger forces at play.

Solidarity starts with the stories we tell. Let’s tell stories that build power together.

Should We Abandon Nonprofits and Just Focus on Mutual Aid?

People are frustrated with nonprofits. They can feel slow, bureaucratic, and more accountable to funders than the communities they serve. Meanwhile, mutual aid is fast, direct, and rooted in solidarity, meeting urgent needs without the red tape. So should we stop giving to nonprofits and focus only on mutual aid?

💡 It’s not either/or. We need both.

1. Nonprofits Can Move Resources at Scale

Mutual aid is powerful, but it often relies on small, direct contributions. Nonprofits have the infrastructure to mobilize millions of dollars, fund legal battles, support movement-building, and create systemic solutions that mutual aid alone can’t sustain.

2. Nonprofits Can Push Systemic Change

Mutual aid is necessary because of systemic failures—but what if we could change those systems? Radical nonprofits work to shift policies, redistribute wealth, and challenge power structures so that mutual aid isn’t always needed.

3. The Problem Isn’t Nonprofits—It’s How They Operate

Some nonprofits do cater more to wealthy donors than to their mission. But instead of abandoning the model, we can support nonprofits that embody mutual aid values: those that are accountable, community-led, and focused on dismantling oppressive systems.

4. Who Should We Fund?

When deciding whether to give to a nonprofit or mutual aid, ask:
✔️ Is this nonprofit redistributing wealth and power?
✔️ Are they led by the communities they serve?
✔️ Are they working toward systemic change, not just temporary relief?

Don’t fund nonprofits that uphold the status quo. Fund the ones that fight to change it.

Mutual aid is essential. So is long-term movement-building. The goal isn’t to choose one over the other—it’s to fund liberation in all the ways that move us forward.

The Power of Video Storytelling: Why Nonprofits Need More Than Just Data to Inspire Action

Numbers tell us what’s happening. Stories make us feel why it matters.

Nonprofits often rely on data to demonstrate their impact—how many meals served, how many policies changed, how many lives improved. While this information is important, it doesn’t always move people to act. That’s where video storytelling comes in. Video has the power to turn statistics into stories, bringing the human experience to the forefront and inspiring real change.

Why Video Works: Emotion Drives Action

Research shows that people are more likely to donate, volunteer, or advocate when they feel emotionally connected to a cause. Video storytelling engages both the heart and mind, using visuals, music, and personal narratives to create an emotional experience that statistics alone cannot achieve.

Storytelling That Moves People

Effective nonprofit videos:

• Introduce a relatable protagonist – People connect with people, not abstract issues.

• Show impact through personal experiences – Instead of just listing accomplishments, bring them to life through firsthand stories.

• Create a sense of urgency and possibility – Inspire people with both the challenge and the vision of what’s possible.

Beyond Fundraising: Video as a Movement-Building Tool

While video storytelling can drive donations, it can also do so much more. It can educate, mobilize, and unite people around a shared vision. By using video strategically, nonprofits can not only raise funds but also grow their movements, deepen engagement, and spark long-term commitment to systemic change.

Let’s tell stories that don’t just inform—they inspire.