Every nonprofit has a mission worth supporting. The challenge is making sure people see it. During the latest Roswell Inc Nonprofit Leadership Academy, local board members, staff and volunteers gathered at Atlanta Academy to learn how real storytelling, simple video, and everyday moments can help their missions stand out and connect with the community.
The featured speaker was Tran Bui, Emmy Award-winning journalist, owner of Tran Bui Productions, and Publication Director of Roswell City Lifestyle. Drawing from her background in television news, media production, and years of nonprofit leadership, Bui shared simple strategies organizations can implement immediately using nothing more than a smartphone.
Having served as a nonprofit board chair, board member, volunteer, donor, and founder of Little Helpers in 2010, Bui understands the challenges organizations face in building awareness while competing for attention online.
Rather than focusing on expensive equipment or complicated marketing strategies, the presentation encouraged attendees to capture things already happening within their organizations. Bui's top recommendations included posting people instead of just flyers, capturing everyday moments, telling stories rather than statistics, recording simple interviews, and showing up before asking for support.
She also introduced her Nonprofit Content Formula: one reel to tell a story, one impact photo to showcase the mission in action, and one behind-the-scenes moment each week to keep supporters connected and their organizations visible.
The event also highlighted another important goal of the Leadership Academy: bringing local nonprofits together.
"It works even better when we all know each other and can talk, figure things out, and support one another," said Steve Stroud, President and CEO of Roswell Inc.
"Meaningful stories are already happening every day through volunteers, donors, staff, and the people they serve," Bui added. "The key is simply capturing those moments and sharing them, because your community can't support what they never see."
"Nonprofits don't need a huge marketing budget to tell meaningful stories. The stories are already happening every day through volunteers, donors, staff, and the people they serve. The key is simply capturing those moments and sharing them, because your community can't support what they never see."