Stories are important. So is how we tell them.

If you're reading this, you'd likely agree that storytelling is a powerful way to engage audiences and build community around our missions. As changemakers, we also
have an opportunity – and responsibility – to consider how we are telling stories. Do our storytelling practices truly align with our organizational values? And what does it actually look like to honor the humanity of those whose stories we tell, including ourselves?

We'll explore these questions and more in Ethical Storytelling for Impact, an interactive two hour journey into ethical maze of storytelling in the not-for-profit and impact world. We will:

  • Explore the Emergent Field of ethical, dignified storytelling from its roots to the most recent tools and publications. We will also view organizational storytelling through the lens of larger conversations around building inclusive cultures and decolonizing the impact sector.
  • Unpack Ethical Challenges of widely used storytelling 'best practices,' both in the way we structure and share stories and in the way we gather them in support of our missions.
  • Discover Powerful Tools and constructs you can start applying immediately to enhance and deepen your storytelling practices. Tools include Asset Framing, Deep Consent practices, and the Dignified Storytelling Principles. 
  • Navigate Common Barriers to the adoption of Ethical Storytelling practices.
  • Begin Building a Road Map towards greater integration of dignified and ethical storytelling practices into your work and organizational culture.

You'll leave with a deeper understanding of Ethical Storytelling, a suite of templates and resources, ideas to implement in your own work, and a community of other nonprofit and impact practitioners with whom to share the journey.
Who Is It For?
This is designed for nonprofit leaders (including Board Members), communicators, and fundraisers.

Ethical Storytelling is more than a communications or fundraising tool, it is a transformational practice that can, and should, facilitate shifts at every level of your organization. 

While we generally consider 'storytelling' to reside in the domain of communications and fundraising, it also supports and influences executive leadership, strategy, and program development. 

Please note that this experience focuses on Ethical Storytelling and is not an introductory storytelling workshop. 
Dates and Logistics
The workshop will be held live on Zoom and is 120 minutes in length. We'll be interacting quite a bit, so please plan to attend for the full session and, if possible, be on camera.

The next available session is June 6 at 9 AM PST.
Class Fees 
This class is offered on a sliding scaled based on budget size. Each organization can bring up to 3 team members with a single registration:
$1.5 million and above: $150
$500k to $1.5 million: $115
Less than $500k: $95

About the Facilitator

Michael Kass is the Founder of Story & Spirit, a consultancy dedicated to building connections and advancing collective thriving by weaving together facilitation, storytelling, and contemplative practices. Story & Spirit’s clients include Google, The Annenberg Foundation, Prudential, Conveners.org, SOCAP, Techstars, and numerous other clients ranging from grassroots start-ups to established enterprises.

Before going out on his own, Michael spent over 15 years working on staff with 501(c)3 organizations across the sector. As a fundraiser and grantwriter, he helped raise over $100 million for projects ranging from a theater in downtown Chicago to a new family health center in Los Angeles. He has also worked as a strategic and financial management consultant for not-for-profits all over the country. His workshops on Organizational and Ethical Storytelling, Conscious Leadership, and Resilience have been featured at conferences and events including the Dignified Storytelling Forum in Dubai, SOCAP, 501(c)conference, Ashoka Changemakers Africa, Pan African Leadership Institute, Conveners.org and more.

Michael has been a leading voice in Ethical Storytelling since 2018. He is the co-author of Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnerships whitepaper on Ethical Storytelling, a contributor to EthicalStorytelling.com, and served on the Advisory Council of the international Dignified Storytelling project.

Michael is also a world-wide Breathwork Facilitator and probably likes chocolate more than you do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this workshop be recorded if I can't make it live?
No, but, based on interest, I'll be scheduling more workshops soon. ​
I'll be driving when the workshop is happening, can I still attend?
No. We'll be working in breakout groups and having hands on explorations with various case studies. Please plan to attend with the same level of presence you would bring to an in-person workshop.
I'm intrigued, but not sure that this is relevant to my work. How do I know if this is for me??
I may be biased, but I believe that this work is relevant to any of us in the impact sector. Ultimately, storytelling is the basic building block of the communities we build around our missions. Understanding how the way we tell stories, and the types of stories we tell, impacts larger currents in the impact world is essential to facilitating lasting change. And 'ethical storytelling' practices, ultimately, help us tell more powerful stories.
I'd like my team to attend. Do I need to pay for each participant even if we're sharing computers?
Thank you for asking! Each registration is valid for up to three team members to attend the workshop.

Registration