Better Stories, Better Language: A Communications Workshop Series
Series description:
This series is a collaboration between the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications and the Council on Foundations. These three workshops will offer you the skills and tools to tell more complex, robust stories about the charitable sector and your work. You'll learn how to create a more accurate narrative and build trust through transparent storytelling and intentional language.
- October 30, 2025 | Stories of Value and Values | The science behind ethical, engaging stories that demonstrate the essential role of the charitable sector
- November 5, 2025 | Making the Case | How to build support for new kinds of storytelling
- December 3, 2025 | Showing Our Work | Demonstrating the value of a narrative strategy
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After a year of research, the Council and the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications released “Philanthropy’s New Voice: Building Trust With Deeper Stories and Clear Language," in April 2024. As the largest study of narratives in philanthropy, it offers science-backed strategies for foundations to build understanding and trust, including:
- Insights about how audiences with different demographics, ideologies, and experiences receive stories about philanthropy;
- Actionable guidance on the types of stories that will bring more transparency and clarity to your work;
- Reflections from individuals in the policy sphere about philanthropy; and
- Suggestions for transparent, clear, and accurate language that better represents the work that foundations do.
As a result of this work, the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications and the Council on Foundations are offering this engaging training series for foundation communicators.