Wednesday Apr 29, 2026

Episode #117: Consent, Dignity, and the Case Story with Derria Ford

In this episode, nonprofit consultant and ethical storytelling expert Derria Ford joins us for a conversation that every fundraiser, communications professional, and nonprofit leader needs to hear. Derria didn't set out to become an expert in this space, she was pushed into it by necessity, and then transformed by a single moment when a storyteller asked her to stop. What followed was years of building a practice rooted in dignity, consent, and the radical idea that the person telling the story should actually own it.

This isn't just a conversation about doing the right thing, it's about doing better work. Derria walks us through her entire process, from identifying who's truly ready to share their story, to co-creating it with them, to the policies that protect both your storytellers and your organization long after the campaign ends. She challenges the sector's obsession with tears-as-metrics, makes the case for informed consent over intake forms, and offers a litmus test so simple it stops you cold: tell the story as if it were yours. If you've ever rushed a story out the door, repurposed old content without checking in, or wondered if your organization's storytelling is doing more harm than good, this episode is your starting point.

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This Episode Brought to You by:

Swaim Strategies: https://swaimstrategies.com

Utilizing over 20 years of nonprofit event strategy and production expertise, Swaim Strategies coaches and teaches organizations how to increase the impact of their fundraising events.

The AV Department: https://theavdept.com/

As a full-service event AV and video production partner, The AV Department’s technical event production and media content generation provide you with a range of experience and talent from a partner who wants to know you and work together year after year.

Bloomerang: https://bit.ly/4hLqLVw

Create the ideal giving experience with integrated fundraising tools and automated insights that maximize your impact. Keep donors close to the cause with mean-ingful outreach at the right time. Increase retention, major gifts, and all-around impact. Turn supporters into action-takers with tools that make it easy to recruit, organize, and engage volunteers at every level.

Feathr: https://www.feathr.co/

Feathr is a marketing platform built specifically for mission-driven organizations, offering simple tools for digital advertising, email campaigns, and audience engagement. The platform uses real-time insights and AI-powered segmentation to help you reach the right people at the right time—whether you’re nurturing existing supporters or discovering new ones who share your values. It’s marketing that meets people where they are, building relationships that last beyond a single click.

Speakers

Samantha Swaim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-swaim-a28a9a4/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Kristin Steele

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-steele777/

Substack: https://substack.com/@swaimstrategies

Derria Ford

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derria-ford-mba-ed-d-6b820060/

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