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Maybe you've felt it before. That moment when you're face-to-face with a potential major donor, or standing before your board, or speaking to a community group, and despite your preparation, passion and expertise, you can see their attention drifting. You know your organization's work is transformative. You can recite the statistics. You understand the impact. But somehow, in that moment, the magic of your mission isn't communicated as vividly as you hoped it would be.

I've been there and that is why I’m excited to share some reflections from a book I have read that has helped shape my approach to storytelling. Karen Eber's book, The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inspire Action and Get Results offers science-based frameworks that are easy to apply to how you tell stories about your organization’s impact and mission in action.

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt presents a compelling case for how smartphones and social media have transformed childhood—from active, play-based experiences to phone-based, screen-dominated ones. While much of the conversation around the book has focused on youth mental health, Haidt’s research holds deeper relevance for all of us living in an increasingly distracted, hyper-connected world.

As I read, I found myself reflecting not just on childhood, but on adulthood and on how we connect with one another as family members, neighbors, colleagues, and members of a shared community. Haidt’s analysis of how technology rewires our brains and behaviors applies just as powerfully to adults as it does to kids. And in the nonprofit sector, where our work depends on meaningful relationships and shared purpose, those insights feel especially critical.

As a nonprofit leader, it is likely that building and maintaining donor trust is one of your highest priorities. Have you ever thought about embracing radical transparency as a practice to foster long-lasting relationships and build trust? An upcoming meeting or retreat could provide a perfect forum for your team’s reflection on this topic.

Paint the Full Picture

What is radical transparency? It goes far beyond reporting on finances and operations. It's about sharing your vision, challenges, successes, processes and even shortcomings. It means being upfront about where you and your organization are excelling and where you are working to improve.

“The dog ate my homework.”