Narratives With Integrity: When a Story Feels Owed, Not Offered
“How can we avoid transactional storytelling, where people feel like their story is the price of receiving help?”
“How can we make sure storytellers don’t feel pressured to say yes?”
“Should we compensate people for sharing their stories?”
The stories nonprofits tell can build trust, inspire generosity, and spark change – but they can also unintentionally reinforce power imbalances between organizations and the people they serve.
In this installment of Narratives With Integrity, we’re taking a closer look at how power dynamics influence nonprofit storytelling – from the ways we ask for stories to the ways we share them. When does storytelling become transactional? How can we ensure stories are offered, not owed?
Join us for this timely MemoryFox Special Event on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT, led by MemoryFox CEO/Founder Chris Miano, where our panel of thought leaders will explore:
- How to recognize and address power imbalances in story collection
- Ethical approaches to compensating or honoring storytellers
- Ways to foster consent and agency at every stage of storytelling
- Strategies to shift from transactional to trust-based storytelling practices
Meet the Panelists:
- Rachel D’Souza – Gladiator Consulting
- Allie Levene – Levene Legal
- Additional Panelists TBD
Your questions will lead the way. The ONLY questions we’ll ask during the session come directly from attendees—so think about the moments when storytelling has felt unbalanced, and submit your questions for our panel to discuss live.
