How can you transform community inclusion from a mere content creation tactic into a central pillar of your strategy? And what exciting outcomes await?

Community inclusion has the potential to bring a unique, engaging vibe, making campaigns more relatable and heartfelt. This realness not only draws in new fans but also tightens bonds with current supporters, building a strong, devoted group of donors. 

Plus, we get a clearer, more detailed picture of the community’s needs, leading to smarter, more spot-on programs. It’s a win-win: authentic tales lead to better projects, sparking even more inspiring stories along the way.

If you’re on board with MemoryFox, you’ve already embarked on a promising journey towards inclusion. However, tools are merely the beginning. You’ve found the train, now you have to get it moving. But where do you start?

1. Embrace a Mindset Shift
   
   As with almost everything in life, lasting change starts with a mindset change. To truly embrace community inclusion, we must refocus on those we serve. Existing in a capitalist society, many of us subtly started mirroring this environment. We’ve found ourselves focusing more on monetary results. 
   
   This shift, usually not a deliberate choice, has led us to view donors as our primary clients, influencing our strategies and objectives in the non-profit sector. This is not what we were made for: The donors are not our customers, the beneficiaries are.
   
   We need to embrace a beneficiary-first mindset, measuring success in more than just dollars. Consider what narratives and processes will uplift our community and value the community impact of your narrative and stories as equally important as its fundraising value. 

2. Redefine Your Own Role
   
   Adopting community-focused workflows revolutionizes our role in communications. Our job becomes facilitating the community in narrating their own stories, providing support to connect them with their donors effectively.
   
   This means creating a space where they can share their stories, unfiltered and authentic. With MemoryFox, you have a great tool to aid in this endeavor. Instead of just using it for story collection, let it be the cornerstone of your community-inclusive approach. 

3. Include Your Community, On and Offline
   
   Elevate your approach by leveraging MemoryFox as both a narrative input and a story bank. Use open-ended prompts to gather insights, focusing on what the community identifies as their story, rather than directing them towards predetermined narratives.
   
   Along with using MemoryFox, it’s just as important to connect with folks in your community in real life. Find the go-to people, the ones who naturally tell great stories or lead the pack, even if they don’t have a formal title. Help them get their stories out there and inspire others to share theirs too, whether that’s through MemoryFox or just in casual conversations.

By putting community members in charge of their own narratives, we do more than sharing stories: we spark significant dialogues. This approach cultivates more profound understanding and relationships, leading to outcomes that are both enduring and impactful in the nonprofit world.

Tip: Check out Story Bridge’s ‘A Year of Community Inclusion’ course. It’s a year-long program designed to integrate community inclusion in your communication strategies. As a MemoryFox client, you’re eligible for a 25% discount. Just let us know you’re with MemoryFox. There’s limited spots, so act quickly. To request the brochure, click here.