Thanks to the digital age, we live in a new era of storytelling and fundraising.
Whether through blogs, emails, social media or video, using story to highlight an organization’s impact is an engaging way to invite people into the good work being done. From the complexities of social issues to the benefits and downsides of nuanced solutions, great stories not only inspire but educate. Yet, all too often, organizations view stories as merely a way to raise funds. This reduces stories to a mere transaction, when they are so much more.
Stories have the power to show someone a mirror-image of their best self. To encourage people to hold on when going through difficult times. And to inspire others to act. Stories change our world.
We are a community of practitioners engaging the messy yet beautiful conversation around storytelling in the social impact space. At Ethical Storytelling, we believe people’s stories are more than emotion-generating machines. That story consumers are more than guzzlers of emotion. And that stories should always be constituent first, donor second. We aspire to tell stories that are truthful, nuanced, educational and empowering. Not just for donors or for branding, but because stories shape our humanity and our world.
This pledge is an aim to focus on the HOW not only the WHAT of the stories we may encounter – but maybe should not always tell – in the work we do.
As storytellers and non-profit practitioners shaping the way the world sees people’s lives:
We pledge to:
- Tell others’ stories the way we want our story told.
- Always put people first.
- Explain to constituents the purpose of the story, where it will be used and answer any questions they might have before photographing, filming or recording.
- Find an able translator if we speak different languages.
- Ask the constituent if they wish to be named or identified and act according to their wishes.
- Use all images and messages with the full understanding, participation and permission of the constituent or the constituent’s legal guardian.
- Uphold the dignity of our constituents through empowering imagery and messages that motivate engagement and inspire hope.
- Truthfully represent a situation or story to educate our audiences of the realities, complexities and nuances of the issues we advocate for.
- Not use images, footage or words that sensationalize or stereotype a person or a situation.
- Ask for feedback from our constituents and incorporate this feedback into the final story.
- Abide by international law, standards and protocols related to vulnerable persons, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
- Listen to our constituents’ voices and respect their decisions, story and journey.
- Hold a posture of humility and learning, recognizing that failures can be our biggest educators.
- Seek advice if we question whether a particular story, message or image is not in alignment with ethical storytelling practices.
- Not tell the story, despite the resources invested, when the story cannot be told with the integrity of this pledge.
- Take ownership of our responsibility to uphold integrity in our storytelling and messaging.
As a community of nonprofit practitioners and storytellers we commit to learning from the past and integrating a new standard of storytelling as we journey together into the future.
546
Ms Amanda D.
United States
Thistle Farms
545
Ms Cerisse G.
United Kingdom
544
Ms Amy K.
Canada
543
Mr Thomas C.
Canada
Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST)
542
Ms Carley S.
Canada
541
Miss Laura B.
Australia
Copyette
540
Ms Candice C.
United States
Cassidy Composition
539
Ms Brian K.
United States
Aquabear Legion
538
Ms Helena G.
United States
537
Dr. Curtis E.
Canada
Vernon & District Immigrant & Community Services Society
536
Mr Rick P.
United States
Global Retail Solutions
535
Ms Alice Z.
United States
Shot@Life
534
Ms JEANNIE H.
United States
533
Ms Katie A.
United States
Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking
532
Mr PETER C.
Kenya
PETERCACAH PHOTOGRAPHY
531
Ms Vianney L.
United States
530
Ms Cindy D.
United States
Nonprofit communications
529
Ms Laura M.
United States
Children & Nature Network
528
Ms Helen Z.
Virginia
ReEstablish Richmond
527
Mr Kyle H.
United States
Oregon Food Bank
526
Ms Anna S.
United States
LISC Philadelphia
525
Ms Shannon H.
524
Ms Christie V.
United States
International Institute of Minnesota
523
Mrs Ashley D.
United States
522
Mrs Anneloes D.
Netherlands
Neighborhood Feminists
521
Ms Lidia H.
United States
Youth Eastside Services
520
Mr Philippe L.
United States
Plant With Purpose
519
Mr Paul M.
United States
Feeding America
518
Mrs Nadine N.
Australia
CAN DO! Content
517
Ms Betsy S.
CA
Alabaster International
516
Miss Emily T.
United States
Brain Recovery Project
515
Mr Adam G.
United States
US Peace Corps Volunteer
514
Mrs Amanda M.
United States
Kingdom Causes Inc.
513
Miss Caroline B.
United States
Kingdom Causes, Inc.
512
Ms Helen Z.
United States
511
Miss Caroline B.
United States
City Net
510
Ms Georgia W.
United States
returned.org
509
Ms Laura S.
Dominican Republic
Peace Corps
508
Mr Yazan F.
United States
Kapadia Education Foundation
507
Ms Madeleine D.
United States
City Net
506
Dr. Kunal S.
India
Srinivas University
505
Ms Astrid C.
United States
Adoption Mosaic
504
Ms Sophia F.
United Kingdom
503
Ms Sara Y.
United States
502
Ms Francesca T.
United Kingdom
501
Dr. Rosemarie P.
United States
500
Mr Jay M.
USA
Foster the Future
499
Mrs Liz V.
United States
Army of the Kind
498
Mr Zachary W.
United States
A Lee Dog Story
497
Mrs Alyson R.
United States
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