{"id":26745,"date":"2023-01-09T16:22:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T20:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/?p=26745"},"modified":"2025-09-17T11:48:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:48:24","slug":"nonprofit-storytelling-telling-sensitive-confidential-anonymous-stories-with-dignity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/fundraising-strategies\/nonprofit-storytelling-telling-sensitive-confidential-anonymous-stories-with-dignity\/","title":{"rendered":"Telling Sensitive, Confidential, & Anonymous Stories with Dignity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nonprofit storytelling isn\u2019t a \u201cnice-to-have,\u201d it\u2019s a fundamental part of your work. Your organization\u2019s powerful stories are the foundation of your identity, showing who you are as people, what you do to make a difference in your community, and what makes you unique to other nonprofits doing similar work. These stories provide a narrative that resonates with donors emotionally and inspires them to give energetically.<\/p>\n

Our 2022 DonorPerfect conference<\/a> attendees told us they\u2019ve experienced challenges telling their organization\u2019s stories due to the confidential nature of their work. Nonprofits in the human services and medical sectors, specifically, run into this often. They wonder, how can we represent our beneficiaries – with dignity – without using their names, faces, or voices?<\/p>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\u201cOur nonprofit is for victims of domestic and sexual violence. All work\/client experiences are confidential to protect clients. How can we use storytelling?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

– Joelyn, Community Outreach\/Administrative Coordinator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe are a shelter and we cannot show our kids’ faces\u2026 how can we still capture our audience’s attention? We run into visual challenges at times.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

– Beth, Grant Coordinator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cHow can we do this and not trigger the audience into trauma responses?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

– Mary, Director of Development<\/a> & Communications<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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How to represent those you serve with dignity <\/strong><\/h2>\n

HIPAA laws aside, there are many reasons why nonprofits vow to keep these details private. For some, confidentiality is a precautionary measure – mitigating potential risks to children and other vulnerable individuals. For others, anonymity is requested by the individual due to the sensitive information included in their story. <\/p>\n

Online and digital fundraising practices allow for creative problem-solving – you can still tell your beneficiaries\u2019 stories through donation forms, web pages, and social media without disclosing their sensitive information.<\/p>\n

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STORY DETAILS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Demographics<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are several options to create a sense of identity while still upholding confidentiality. First, you can use first names only, and\/or change names with a disclaimer. <\/p>\n

\"Alberta<\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect client, Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to list where the storyteller is from, their age, or anything that could breach your confidentiality agreement. The story will still resonate as long as it is honest and heartfelt. See an example below with no personal details, that still paints a picture of the person telling the story.<\/p>\n

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Ex. A young woman came to us after sleeping on the floor of a friend\u2019s apartment with her two-year-old daughter for several months. We\u2019ll call her Kelly and her daughter Kate, for their protection. Kelly comes from a single-income family that couldn\u2019t afford to send her to school, and she was left to her own devices to make ends meet. Some trouble with the law as a teenager has made it hard for her to find work. When she had Kate, she had little to her name. <\/em><\/p>\n

Within a week of meeting Kelly and her daughter, we were able to secure them a cozy two-bedroom bungalow near the lake using donations from our Fresh Start Fund. Their new home is nestled in the same cul-de-sac as other young women we\u2019ve been able to help. Kate has playdates with her young neighbors, and Kelly has a network of support right up the street. Together, they take walks around the lake and talk about the beauty of life. \u201cI found my home base. I know that hard days are behind me,\u201d says Kelly, \u201cand I can finally look forward to the future.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Participants<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Keep in mind that you can <\/em>ask beneficiaries for consent to share their stories, and if interested, what they would be comfortable sharing. If you are having trouble finding someone to share, or don\u2019t feel comfortable asking, try talking to family members or caregivers who may have been impacted as well. Their stories are an important part of your work, too, as they are extremely close to it. You can also interview your own program directors and volunteers – have them walk through their typical day of working with and caring for your beneficiaries.<\/p>\n

\"Access<\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect client, <\/strong>Access Esperanza Clinics<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Angle<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Imagine you\u2019re a first-time visitor to your website, looking for a program, service, or event that will help you explore your options and get back on your feet. Maybe you\u2019re looking for resources to help a friend or family member. What would speak to your situation, specifically? What would signify to you that a program was designed for you or your loved ones\u2019 needs?<\/p>\n

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\u201cOur nonprofit has five programs that serve different populations so it is easy to overcomplicate, especially to new listeners. We are working on being more intentional about storytelling, one program at a time, depending on the audience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

– Kimberly, Donor Relations Assistant<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Good<\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect client, Good News Outreach<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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STORY IMAGERY<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Avoid faces<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are plenty of ways to make a connection to your audience while still respecting your client’s privacy and confidentiality. To avoid showing their faces, you can play with bird\u2019s eye views, photos taken from behind, or photos of a person\u2019s hands or body in action (writing, studying, passing out food, etc.). It\u2019s not the person\u2019s physical being that your website visitors are relating to, it\u2019s their thoughts, feelings, and struggles.<\/p>\n

Take advantage of eye contact when possible<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If featuring someone who doesn’t mind showing their face, like a family member or willing beneficiary, try to use photos or videos of them looking directly at the camera to establish a deeper connection with the reader. Encourage them to share personal stories or values that the reader can grasp onto and resonate with. Keep in mind that even if you use a photo of someone, it\u2019s not necessary to include their name. Give their story a title instead.<\/p>\n

Get creative with graphics<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Remember: You don\u2019t need photos of people to produce great visual resources. Free tools like Canva allow you to create confidential stories in literal seconds – making client quotes, stories, and program descriptions pop with graphic elements.<\/p>\n

\"post<\/figure>\n

Graphic made using canva.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Use stock images<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re feeling like you\u2019re out of visual options, stock images are a reliable source to lean on. While they may not depict the actual people you are serving, they represent the people you serve. After all, your organization welcomes people from all walks of life, who on the surface may not look like a stereotypical client or patient of yours. <\/p>\n

\"ACE<\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect client, ACE Overcomers<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

If necessary, let beneficiaries tell their own stories<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re worried about triggering your clients by asking for their stories or aren\u2019t sure how to tell them with dignity, let them do it themselves. They can make up a name if they wish, use a nickname, and add their own photo. It doesn\u2019t matter if they choose a photo of a sunset instead of their face – that sunset could represent a new appreciation for the little things in life, and their story remains the same.<\/p>\n

\"Aid<\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect client, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Storytelling best practices for your nonprofit website<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Prioritize storytelling over specs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most nonprofits include a lengthy About section on their website so the beneficiary can get a feel for the team that will be helping them. Still, credentials and program descriptions don\u2019t necessarily translate to impact. When seeking help, your beneficiaries are much more concerned with how <\/em>these programs will help their <\/em>situation, specifically. Personal stories are the best way to illustrate this information and evoke an emotional response, so try to strike a balance between sharing client experiences and cold hard facts.<\/p>\n

You can even provide About information in the form of a story. Instead of listing where your staff went to school or served before, encourage them to write about their personal reasons for getting involved in this work. Try filming a short video with your staff so website visitors can get to know you and establish a personal connection.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect client, Building Bridges<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Create a clear path to your stories<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Your storytelling should be a part of your website navigation so visitors can easily put themselves in the shoes of your past and current beneficiaries, and decide if your programs are right for their needs. Even if you\u2019ve given your storytelling a specific title – ex. Our Heroes, Community Voices, etc. – make sure these stories have their own designated section on your website, rather than peppering them throughout your website pages.<\/p>\n

Why? If someone is skimming through your website, curious about the first steps to getting help, stories that are strewn throughout will be easy to miss, and harder to resonate with. For example, in situations of abuse, it\u2019s possible that your website visitors won\u2019t know that they need help until they have heard from or connected with others experiencing abuse.<\/p>\n

\"Bridge<\/figure>\n

DonorPerfect Client, Bridge Refugee Services<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Designate a place for your stories, ex:<\/p>\n