Storytelling Program Empowers Eastern North Carolina Nonprofits

Camber Foundation is committed to providing grantees with opportunities to enhance their skills, develop professionally, and build capacity. Towards this goal, Camber Foundation is pleased to offer six of its grantees a six-month capacity-building program focused on the power of storytelling. Designed to help nonprofits craft compelling narratives, this initiative aims to strengthen their ability to drive change, engage stakeholders, and unlock new funding resources. 

The Camber Foundation Storytelling Program equips nonprofit organizations with the tools to use storytelling as a strategic communication asset, creating video narratives that deeply connect with their audiences. Over the course of six months, the program features three virtual training sessions, an in-person story development session, individual coaching, and finally, professional video production that captures each organization’s story. 

Six Camber grantees in Eastern North Carolina were chosen to participate in this first cohort, each demonstrating their enthusiasm for developing this skill set and a readiness to tell stories that extend beyond annual reports and social media updates.

Meet the Participating Grantees

• A Better Chance, A Better Community (ABC2) | Enfield, NC (Halifax County)
• Cancer Services of Eastern NC | Greenville, NC (Pitt County)
• Kinston Teens | Kinston, NC (Lenoir County)
• Men & Women United for Youth & Families | Delco, NC (Columbus County)
• Strategic Twin Counties Education Partnership (STEP) | Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
• Wilson Youth United (The SPOT) | Wilson, NC (Wilson County)

Now, the program is shifting from learning and writing to the production phase. Filming has completed, and editing and revisions have begun. The process will culminate in a showcase of the final videos in early summer.

“We are so happy to be part of the storytelling program,” said Lynn Pischke, Executive Director of Cancer Services of Eastern North Carolina. “We were really able to capture the true spirit of Eastern North Carolinians through our video. Not only is it an excellent overview of why cancer screenings in rural communities are so important, but it also lays the groundwork for us to be able to give a professional product to potential donors.  We already have a waiting list of prospects that are looking forward to seeing it.”

About the Storytelling Program Team
The Camber Foundation storytelling program was created and managed by Nation Hahn, Mark Dessauer, and Robert Kinlaw. 

Nation Hahn has worked in storytelling, media, education, and philanthropy in North Carolina for more than 15 years. He co-founded EdNC.org and worked there for a decade, sharing the stories of our schools, community colleges, and rural communities. 

Mark Dessauer has worked in strategic communications for over 25 years across North Carolina and the United States. Mark worked with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, and Spitfire Strategies. Mark currently works at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. 

Robert Kinlaw is an Eastern NC native documentary filmmaker and founder of Wonder Storytelling LLC. At Wonder, he specializes in creating video content for governments and nonprofit organizations.

“What struck me most profoundly wasn’t just the stories themselves, but watching organizations discover their own narrative voice,” said Hahn. “As these nonprofits moved through the process, I witnessed a transformation—from viewing storytelling as something they ‘should’ do to recognizing it as fundamental to who they are and why their work matters. This project didn’t just produce videos; it built storytelling muscles that will serve these organizations long after the cameras stop rolling. The real magic happened when leaders realized their everyday work contains narratives powerful enough to shift hearts, minds, and resources.”

Mark Dessauer concurred with Hahn. 

“This is the first program I have seen that works with nonprofits from story idea to fully realized video,” said Dessauer. “Throughout the training and conversations, each of the Camber grantees lifted up powerful personal stories of change that sent goosebumps across the room. The lesson learned for everyone is that we all hold powerful stories that drive our community work. The goal of this program is to translate them into videos that can be shared to highlight their work and its impact in the community.”

The Camber Foundation Storytelling Program demonstrates that behind every successful nonprofit are powerful stories waiting to be told, and when organizations discover their narrative voice, they unlock new possibilities for community connection, stakeholder engagement, and transformational impact.

Photo credit: Robert Kinlaw | Wonder Storytelling