Community Story Partnership
The Three Oaks Story, released earlier this month, serves as a sample for the Community Story Partnership described below.
Case Study:
Three Oaks Foundation
Three Oaks Foundation changes lives. It exists within our community to provide emergency shelter and critical services to women and children in circumstances that are almost too horrific to imagine.
Through a collaborative partnership, Three Oaks now has a key storytelling asset. The micro documentary, shown above, was created with a storytelling plan that combined the voices of women supported as well as the voices of leadership at Three Oaks.
Within 24 hours of the film’s debut at the organization’s AGM, the reception was clear:
The video is absolutely perfect!
We’re all so touched by the time and care you put into this project.
It means a lot to have people like you helping to share what we do and why it matters.
- Natalie O’Toole,
Community Relations Manager, Three Oaks Foundation
Last night at the Three Oaks AGM, I got to see the video you produced for us.
It is absolutely amazing and tells our story so well. This will be highly effective for us in spreading the word about IPV and our services.
- Bruce May,
Board Member, Three Oaks Foundation
Why is the Community Story Partnership needed?
Many of the organizations doing the most important work in our communities are also among the least equipped to tell their stories. This fact was made clear by Leah Morgan and Natalie O’Toole, the inspired leaders of Three Oaks Foundation.
Their resources are rightly directed toward programs, people and service delivery. Professional storytelling can therefore feel like a luxury—even though the ability to demonstrate impact has become essential to attracting donors, grants, government funding, volunteers and community support.
The Community Story Partnership would close that gap.
The Three Oaks Foundation Story, the model for the Community Story Partnership, was created as a model to demonstrate the full potential of the Alterna Savings Community Story Partnership vision:
Through an annual partnership with Alterna Savings, selected not-for-profit organizations would receive professionally produced short films documenting their work, the people they serve and the difference they are making.
Lavender Story Studio would work closely with each organization to uncover its strongest stories and create a thoughtful, compelling film that is, most importantly, a practical development asset.
A relatively modest investment can therefore have a multiplier effect: one funded film may help an organization secure grants, attract donors, strengthen partnerships, recruit volunteers and build community understanding for years afterward.
Beyond becoming a sponsor, Alterna Savings becomes an enabler of community impact.
Community Story Partnership parameters include:
➡ production and release of one impactful film per month
➡ tasteful brand placement at the start and end of each video asset
➡ shared ownership of each video asset
➡ the selection of recipients from a prepared list drawn from communities across the Alterna Savings service area
➡ an opportunity to solicit story suggestions from Alterna Savings team members in each branch
What are the outcomes for Alterna Savings?
Aligned with Alterna Savings’ community vision (www.alterna.ca/en/about-us), the Community Story Partnership “actively support(s) the communities we serve through partnerships, investments, and volunteer efforts.”
Community impact: Alterna Savings funding strengthens organizations rather than simply contributing cash.
Brand alignment: This initiative is both a partnership and an investment, enabling worthy community organizations to multiply the value of the support.
Storytelling: Alterna receives authentic community stories they can legitimately celebrate through their own channels, subject of course to appropriate agreements and sensitivity around beneficiaries.
Employee engagement: Employees could potentially nominate organizations, participate in a selection committee or attend an annual film showcase signature event.
Optional Signature Event: If established, an Annual Celebration Event event has the potential to unite Alterna Savings team members with non-profit sector leaders and changemakers. It puts the year’s story partners on the big screen to celebrate and amplify the best work that happens in our communities.
Community Story Partnership
