tell the story: How to activate board members to be ambassadors

The ability of board members to tell an organization’s story is essential for success, whether you’re launching a capital campaign. growing the annual fund, or managing a difficult situation. Board members need to be comfortable and concise when they share the organization’s story in formal and informal situations.

Mimi Bliss has extensive experience as a communications coach, TV reporter, and board member for nonprofits, foundations, higher education, and independent schools. She leads “Sharing Your Why” and “Telling Your Story” workshops to build skills around this critical part of fundraising.

One or two-hour interactive workshops are tailored to fit the needs of advisory boards, boards of trustees, nonprofit boards of directors, and conference attendees. The focus is on actionable skills that board members can use immediately, including how to:

• Tailor your message to fit the audience, whether you’re talking to one person or 100

• Communicate a simple and consistent message

• Share your personal “why” in a concise manner

• incorporate concrete examples (not a laundry list of services)

• Respond to challenging questions

• Speak with confidence

• Make the asK

Telling Your Story workshops for board members and staff include follow-up programs and videos that organizations can use to refresh and reinforce the skills with their boards over time.

Workshops prepare members of your organization to deliver a message that is consistent, but not identical. By encouraging people to put the organization’s messages in their own words, everyone in your organization learns how to tell the story.