Charity Storytelling Coach

PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR CHARITY TEAMS

The Totez Charity Storytelling Coach helps you find, collect and shape stories about your charity’s work. From preparing interview questions to turning rough notes into a first draft, it gives you a practical starting point and helps you decide what to do next.

Bring your knowledge of the people and work. The Coach will help you organise it into a story.

OPEN THE STORYTELLING COACH

SEE HOW IT WORKS

Access note:
Works within ChatGPT. A ChatGPT account and access to the Totez plugin are required.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE HELP WITH?

FIND A STORY
WORTH TELLING

Explore everyday moments, experiences and changes that could help explain your charity’s work.

PREPARE AN INTERVIEW

Create open questions suited to the person you’re speaking with and the purpose of the story.

MAKE SENSE OF YOUR NOTES

Organise quotes, observations and key details into a clear structure before you start writing.

CREATE A
FIRST DRAFT

Shape the information you provide into a case study, website story, newsletter piece or social post.

ADAPT FOR MULTI CHANNELS

Work out which details to keep and how to adjust the length, tone and focus for each audience.

VIEW THE LIBRARY

REVIEW AND
IMPROVE A DRAFT

Look for unclear wording, missing information and claims that need checking before publication.

How to use the Coach

Start with what you have. You don’t need a finished story. A few notes and a clear purpose are enough to begin.

1.
Tell it what you need

Explain what you’re working on, who the story is for and where you plan to share it. Alternatively, use prompt from the Storytelling Plugin Companion Pack.

ACCESS THE PACK

2.
Add information

Provide relevant notes, approved quotes or a draft. Use anonymised details where possible and leave out information you don’t have permission to share.

TRY THE PLUGIN

3.
Refine and review

Ask follow-up questions and adjust the wording until you have enough details and you are happy with it, then check the result with the people who told you the story.

FIND OUT HOW

Try a starting prompt

If you're not sure what to ask, choose a prompt and replace the details in brackets with your own.

Spot
a story

“Our charity supports [group] through [activity]. Help me identify three possible story angles and explain what information we would need to collect.”

Prepare
questions

“Help me prepare five open interview questions for a [volunteer/staff member/participant] about [experience]. Keep the questions respectful, clear and easy to answer.”

Shape
a draft

“Help me turn these anonymised notes into a 300-word website story for [audience]. Use only the information provided, flag anything missing and do not invent quotes or details.”

Repurpose
a story

“Adapt this approved story into a short newsletter article and two social media captions. Keep the facts and meaning consistent and don’t add claims or invented details.”

KEEP PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES AT THE CENTRE

The Coach supports your judgement. Your team remains responsible for the facts, permissions and final wording.

Use real information. Check every detail and quote against your source material.

Protect personal information. Share only what is appropriate and permitted.

Review before publishing. Check that the story reflects the person’s experience and agreed use.

AI can help shape a story, but it cannot obtain consent or decide on someone's behalf whether their story should be shared.

EXPLORE ETHICAL STORYTELLING RESOURCES

ACCESS AND COMMON QUESTIONS

How do I access the Coach?

Open the link on this page, sign into ChatGPT and follow the instructions to add the Totez plugin. Once installed, select it when starting your storytelling task.

Is there a charge?

Totez does not charge for access to the Coach. ChatGPT’s own plan requirements and usage limits may apply.

Will it write a complete story for me?

It can help draft a story from the information you provide. You will still need to check the facts, refine the wording and confirm that you have permission to publish it.

Can our team use it together?

Each person will need access through their own eligible ChatGPT account. You can use the same prompts and Totez resources to support a consistent team approach.

How to use the Coach

Start with what you have. You don’t need a finished story. A few notes and a clear purpose are enough to begin.