Impact stories are credibility for your organization’s work. Imagine the data report coming alive. However, you must ask the correct impact story interview questions to draw out strong testimonial stories. These questions are best suited for B2C organizations. Consider scenarios where your org helped someone accomplish a goal.
That could be overcoming:
- houselessness
- recovering from an injury,
- finding a career in the outdoors or
- installing solar on one’s home.
Instead of random singular disconnected soundbites, you’ll have a narrative arc that showcases journey and transformation.
6 Impact Story Interview Questions that Communicate Transformation
Well-crafted impact story interview questions provide the structure to follow someone’s journey. Without it, your audience is lost.
There's nothing magical about the questions themselves. Their power comes from the six essential story plot points they are attached to, which ensure they never fail.
- Hook
- Conflict
- Initiation
- Journey
- Outcome
- Call to Action
Can you describe the specific moment you wanted or needed _________?
(Hook Question)
Purpose: Recalling the turning point:
A Question to Uncover the Initial Challenge.
This question helps you to identify the specific moment or event that led the beneficiary to seek help, setting the stage for their story.
What was the biggest obstacle or problem you faced?
(Conflict Question)
Purpose: Unveil the core challenges.
This question reveals the main issue the beneficiary faced and how they aligned with the nonprofit's mission.
What was the key moment that made you reach out to our organization?
(Initiation Question)
Purpose: Uncovering the first step or decision to Seek Help.
This question highlights the beneficiary's initial actions or decisions to engage with your nonprofit.
What were 2-3 milestones in your journey, including successes, setbacks, or unexpected events? (Journey Question)
Purpose: Navigate the ups and downs to capture the journey.
These questions cover a range of experiences, including successes, setbacks, and extraordinary events, providing a comprehensive view of the beneficiary's journey.
What was the moment you felt a positive change or improvement in your situation? (Outcome Question)
Purpose: Identify the moment of change.
This question helps to pinpoint the moment of significant positive change or realization in the beneficiary's story.
Looking back at your entire experience, what is the most important thing you've learned or gained? (Call to action questions)
Alternative Question: What’s one thing you wish others in similar situations would know?
Purpose: Reflect on the experience to inspire others to action.
These questions encourage beneficiaries to reflect on their overall experience and the broader lessons or messages they can share.
Examples of Nonprofit Impact Stories
Evie’s Voice
We at BairStories had no time with the family before filming their interview for Evie’s Voice. This is different from our working norm. Nonetheless, we captured a moving, impactful story using the understanding and wisdom from these impact story interview questions and plot points.
NeuAbility / Find A Way
NeuAbility is a comprehensive rehabilitative wellness center in Denver, CO. This story profile of their client, Lexi Monahan, was produced for NeuAbility's annual fundraiser, Strive. The mean team, Reservoir, did a great job with the story and visuals for this impact story.
Local Heroes, Colorado Veterans Project
This documentary, part origin and impact story, was produced by Breakwater Studios for Charles Schwab's Local Heroes series. This film showcases the founders and beneficiaries of the Colorado Veterans Project.
These Impact Story Interview Questions Are Guides,
Make Them Your Own While Keeping the Purpose In Tact
I want you to customize these questions. Inject your personality into them. Doing so will enrich the overall interview experience. Your interviewee will feel like they’re conversing where authentic responses flow.
Specific questions that draw out the conflict, initiation, journey, resolution, call to action, and hook provide the ingredients for a captivating impact story. Effective impact story interview questions draw out the journey and capture the essence of the transformation.
You could also assess a volunteer's impact using the questions above or these volunteering experience questions from MemoryFox.
Before crafting your next impact video story, ensure the person sharing their story has the three big human characteristics needed for emotive storytelling. Without them, your stories will feel flat.
Related Articles
OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Grammarly were used for revisions and feedback. Check out our AI Ethical Use Statement.
No Comments.