Your institution is sending hundreds—maybe thousands—of messages each year to alumni, donors, and friends. But is the story being told the one you think you’re telling? After analyzing two years of email communications, we discovered that less than 3% expressed the “why” behind giving to our university. In other words, the core narrative of impact and mission was getting lost in a flood of generic updates and transactional messages.

This session explores how to reclaim control of your institution’s narrative using data-informed analysis and story-driven strategy. We’ll unpack practical methods for auditing communications, identify the hidden stories already shaping how your audiences perceive you, and share how intentional messaging shifts can lead to stronger engagement and donor growth.