“Cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner suggests we are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story. Why? Because stories are memorable. Stories help us grab the gist of an idea quickly…. Injecting hard numbers into your story will raise the stakes and bring your call to action into clearer focus. Bottom line: the combination of data + story – satisfying both left and right brain thinking – is what will ignite your audience to act.”
– Kate Harrison, Forbes, 2015
When you think of applying for a grant, you might picture endless amounts of forms, checkboxes, and spreadsheets. But what we have noticed is that these technical details fall flat without a storytelling component.
Storytelling is powerful because it deeply engages our emotions and imagination, making information more memorable and relatable. Stories connect us with others, build empathy, and can even shape our perceptions and drive action. They tap into our primal instincts for narrative structure and making meaning, helping us understand the world and our place in it.
The long-term impact of telling stories is manifold. It gives you a way to communicate the value of the project to the community, share pride in the progress we make together, and inspire other communities to resolve their own challenges in the future. In short, stories give us the “why” behind what we do. And the “why” is crucial to getting support and funding.
After identifying what the story is, figuring out how to tell it is just as important. For example: imagine a 90-second video showing your project site, outlining the problem, and making it clear what is needed to solve that problem. Imagine being able to send that video out to stakeholders and see what kind of support you get in response.
When applying for grants, the facts are important. But remember to also have the “why” to complement them. Want help extracting your story? Contact us at 616-364-8491!
