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How can nonprofits tell powerful, compelling stories without compromising the dignity of the people they serve?

In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, I welcome Carly Euler, Marketing Director at MemoryFox and creator of the Ethical Storytelling Report. With a rich background in fundraising, marketing, and communications across organizations like the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and the BOMA Project, Carly has seen firsthand how storytelling can both uplift and unintentionally harm.

We dive into Carly’s recent article, “I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me: Stories Can Be Ethical & Still Raise Funds,” and unpack the fundraising industry’s overreliance on trauma-driven narratives. Carly shares a powerful personal moment that reshaped how she approaches storytelling, and offers tangible strategies for nonprofit professionals who want to center consent, agency, and dignity while still driving results.

🎧 In This Episode, We Discuss:

Why “trauma-forward” storytelling is so common—and so problematic
The key elements of ethical storytelling
Highlights from the 2023 Ethical Storytelling Report
How to give story subjects real agency (even on a small budget)
Building trust and long-term relationships through dignified narratives

🧰 Resources & Links

🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷

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Bonus Episode 37 - Thompson Center 2025 Special