Non-profits must tell their story, whether in person, online via their website, through their printed collateral, and beyond. The more channels they use effectively, the further their reach and the more engaging the story, the stronger impact it will have on the recipients. Digital storytelling has the biggest reach and is the easiest to get started with. In today's world, organizations must be more creative than ever with what content they distribute to their constituents. An engaging digital story can significantly increase funding opportunities and community engagement while reducing human efforts needed on both fronts. Learn more: http://www.layingthegroundwork.com/

1. THE POWER OF DIGITAL STORYTELLING
Greg Hofbauer
September 4th, 2012

2. Today’s Agenda
-An introduction to Digital Storytelling
-Look at a few examples
-Discuss tips for telling your story
-Review hardware and software options
-Q & A

3. Stories are a core component of
human interaction
 Stories have been used throughout history
 Religions
 Revolutions
 Civil Moments
 Stories are all around us
 TV, Movies, and Radio programming and ads
 Literature
 Even Facebook
 Stories are already in use by nonprofit organizations
 In-person presentations
 Print campaigns
 Annual reports
 Story mediums have continually evolved over time

4. What is Digital Storytelling?
 Digital storytelling takes many forms.
 A combination of the age old art of storytelling
with technology to incorporate rich media
(videos, images, audio, text, and more) and
interactivity
 Recreating the in-person story experience
online with the addition of visual and historic
information that tells a more encompassing
tale than would otherwise be possible

5. There are unique advantages to
leveraging Digital Storytelling
 Reach a wider audience
 Social networks help your stories travel further than ever
 Tell your story 24x7
 Represent your organization even when you’re sleeping
 Multiply the efforts of your staff
 Your stories are captured once yet retold unlimited times
 Tell a more engaging story
 Visual media brings stories to life
 Involve more participants in the story
 Foster deeper engagement and leverage their network

6. Digital stories help create an emotional
connection with your audiences
 Raise Money
 Traditional Fundraising Campaigns
 Crowdfunding
 Increase Membership or Attendance
 Membership Drives
 Event and Program Marketing
 Engage Supporters
 Newsletter Updates
 Digital Thank Yous
 Show Results and Justify Needs
 Annual Reports
 Milestone Celebrations
“People will forget what you told them. They will forget what you
did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.”

7. Digital Storytelling in action
-World Water Day
-Save The Bay
-ShelterBox

8. PLAY
VIDEO
World Water Day
More than 1 billion people on the planet don't have access to clean drinking water. For $20
a person, non-profit charity: water funds clean water solutions like shallow wells, deep
wells, rainwater harvesting systems, and spring protections to provide people in need with
clean and safe drinking water.

9. PLAY
VIDEO
Save The Bay
Each quarter the employees of Flip Video spend a day giving back to the
community. This February they supported Save the Bay, a local Bay Area
nonprofit organization.

10. PLAY
VIDEO
ShelterBox: Haiti 2011
Homes are submerged, floodwater is running through entire towns and
approximately sixty thousand families are displaced, but people are still
smiling in Thailand.

11. Telling Your Story
-Planning: Focus your narrative and scope
-The Golden rules
-7 Elements of Digital Storytelling

12. Planning your digital story
1. Focus your narrative using these questions
 Who are you trying to engage?
 What action do you want them to take?
 Why would they take action?
 What information can you provide to influence their
decision?
2. Determine the scope of your story
 Moment in time vs. longer story arc?
 Who should be participating in the story?
 What media is best to capture (images, videos, audio,
etc.)?

13. The Golden Rules
• Powerful stories are often under 2 minutes long. The
Keep it short effort you put into keeping it short will go a long way in
helping you focus your message
• Try to focus on one main topic (an event, one person's
Keep it simple story , a lesson, a testimonial). It's easier to get excited
about a video that is focused.
• Viewers want to connect with the work that your
Be genuine organization is doing. Focus on content that is compelling
rather than what's cool
• Beginning-Middle-End: Catch the audience at the
beginning and explain what is happening, build emotion in
Keep it fluid the middle, and come to some sort of resolution at the
end
• Video and photos show the story but don’t forget the
Keep it moving importance of audio. Audio adds emotion.
• Wide shots - establishes the scene
Keep it interesting • Medium shot - gives more intimacy
• Close-up - for emotion and direct connection

14. 7 Elements of Digital
Storytelling
Point of View
 What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author?
A Dramatic Question
 A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end
of the story.
Emotional Content
 Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the
story to the audience.
The Gift of Your Voice
 A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context.
The Power of the Soundtrack
 Music or other sounds that support and embellish the storyline.
Economy
 Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer.
Pacing
 The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses.
Source: The Center for Digital Storytelling (http://www.storycenter.org/)

15. Hardware
-Smart Phones
-Point and Shoot Digital Cameras
-Pocket Video Cameras
-Digital Audio Recorders
-Recommended Accessories

16. Smart Phones
Advantages Disadvantages
 Point and shoot  Reduced quality of
image and video captured content -
capture especially on older
 Easy to transfer devices
and/or directly share
content
 On device editing
applications
 Audio and voice
capture available

17. Sony Bloggie Touch $59
HD Pocket Video Camera Amazon.com
 HD video
(1920x1080p)
 High resolution photo
capture (12.8 MP)
 3.0" touch screen
 Up to 2 hours video
recording time
Features to consider with Pocket Video Cameras:
HD Video Resolution – 720p or higher
Memory – 4GB or larger (Internal + Memory Card)
Dual Capture – Photos & Videos
Size of viewing screen – 2.8” or larger

18. Panasonic Lumix $126
Digital Camera w/ Video Amazon.co
m
 High resolution photos (16.1
MP)
 5x optical zoom
 Auto-stabilization
 HD Video Recording
 Intelligent Auto(iA) Mode
Features to consider with Point and Shoot Cameras:
Photo Resolution – 8 Megapixels or higher
HD Video Resolution – 720p or higher
Optical Zoom – 3x or higher (disregard digital zoom)
Memory – 8GB or larger (Internal + Memory Card)

19. $49
Sony Digital Voice RecorderAmazon.co
m
 Outstanding voice quality
 Small, light and unobtrusive
 Easy to download recordings
to your computer
 Long record time with 2 GB of
memory - 22 hours
Features to consider with Audio Recorders:
Adjustable Microphone Sensitivity
Recording Time / Memory – 1 GB or higher
External Microphone Option

20. Optional Accessories
 Additional Memory Cards
 If
applicable; vary by
device
 Travel/Mini Tripod
 Joby GorillaPod (shown
right)
 Car Charger
 Extra Rechargeable
Battery
 Carry Case

21. Software
-Storage
-Manipulation
-Distribution

22. Publishing workflow

23. Photobucket
 Photobucket is a place to
store, edit, and share photos
and store/share videos
 Upload all your best pictures,
images, graphics, icons, and
videos
 Edit your photos by using the
photo editor
 Share them by email or link
them to your favorite sites like
Facebook and Twitter.
 Import them into other
services such as Animoto
www.photobucket.com

24. YouTube Video Editor
Features
 Combine videos
 Add music
 Trim clips
 Insert transitions
 Rotate clips
 Stabilize clips
 Add text effects
www.youtube.com/editor

25. YouTube Nonprofit Program
YouTube wants to help you activate your cause, tell a compelling story, and
launch an effective campaign using video.
Benefits of joining

26. YouTube lets you involve your
audience
 Create an interactive video petition to involve,
engage and mobilize your audience.
 Urge the community to respond to your video by
creating one of their own.
 Provide examples and a suggested script.
 Feature video responses from the community in a
playlist on your channel.
 Create a compilation video with the video
responses to extend your message.
 Example: It Gets Better Campaign

27. Animoto
 Animoto is a very simple to
use video production tool
 Bring together video clips,
photos, text, music and
create a professional looking
 Import content from
Facebook, Flickr,
Photobucket, Picasa, and
Instagram or upload from
your computer
 Share your videos on
YouTube, Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, your website,
crowdfunding services, and
virtually any other channel.
www.animoto.com

28. Animoto: Causes
How can Animoto help promote your cause?
 Automated, professional video
 Engage your audience with video, on your site and
elsewhere.
 Drive traffic and donations
 Use Animoto videos to convey a message with the right
balance of information and emotional connection.
 Embrace the like-minded
 Spread your message to users on social networking sites
and capitalize on the power of social networks.
 Fundraise through video
 Raise money by reselling DVDs of Animoto videos, or kick off
events with big screen projections for powerful, emotional
messages.
http://www.animoto.com/cause

29. VUVOX Collage
 This media creation suite enables you to
easily turn your photos, videos, text and
audio clips into interactive horizontally
scrolling story.
 A COLLAGE can be published,
embedded, and syndicated into any
website, blog or social networking site.
Features include:
 Image Cut-out and Masking tools
 Layer positioning and Compositing
 Interactive 'Hot-spots', providing links to
media, text or other websites
 Ability to add rich media details
 Text and Soundtrack
http://www.vuvox.com/collage

30. Dropbox
 Dropbox is a free service that lets you
bring all your photos, docs, and videos
anywhere.
 This means that any file you save to your
Dropbox will automatically save to all your
computers, phones and even the Dropbox
website.
 Dropbox makes sharing so easy.
 Invite your friends, family and teammates to
any folder in your Dropbox, and it'll be as if
you saved that folder straight to their
computers.
 You can send people links to specific files in
your Dropbox too. This makes Dropbox
perfect for team projects, sharing party
photos with friends, or recording your band's
new album.
 Dropbox keeps your files safe.
 Even if your computer has a meltdown, your
stuff is always safe in Dropbox and can be
restored in a snap

31. Q&A

32. Additional Resources
 GroundWork Design
 Technology consulting and development firm specialize in Virtual experience and
digital storytelling
 Vimeo's Video School
 Learn how to make better videos through lessons, tutorials, and sage advice
 Video Storytelling for Nonprofits
 This slide deck from See3 Communications covers how to approach video,
making a plan, the different types of video storytelling, and four things you can do
right now to get started. See slides 12 and 13 for important questions to ask
before making your video.
 See3's Guide to Online Video
 A YouTube playlist of short videos about making videos.
 How to Create a Digital Story
 Includes the recorded webinar, powerpoint, a storyboarding worksheet, and a
video release form. See also Tools for Digital Storytelling, or check out more
of TechSoup's storytelling webinars under the "Outreach and Marketing"
category.
 How Nonprofits Can Use Video to Fundraise

33. Sources
 http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/
 http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx
 http://www.causevox.com/blog/2012/01/19/highlights-our-ntenfoundation-center-digital-storytelling-session/
 http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/07/21/digital-storytelling-from-soup-to-nuts/
 http://www.storycenter.org/about/
 http://dcat.tv/dcat/index.cfm/the-dcat-blog/digital-storytelling-for-non-profits/
 http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/07/15/digital-storytelling-a-tutorial-in-10-easy-steps/
 http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/b/tsblog/archive/2011/01/18/digital-storytelling-methods-time-and-
resources-needed.aspx
 http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/b/tsblog/archive/2011/01/14/techsoup-digital-storytelling-challenge-tips-
on-telling-your-story.aspx
 http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/webinars/2011_01_13_how/page13252.cfm
 http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page6738.cfm
 http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/06/10/5-steps-to-create-video-stories-for-your-nonprofit/
 http://storify.com/askdebra/the-future-of-nonprofit-storytelling-12ntcstory/embed
 http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/digital-storytelling-video
 http://backpacktactics.com/no-brochures-digital-storytelling-for-nonprofits/
 http://animoto.com/cause