Stop Being Boring: How to Make People Actually Give a Sh*t About Your Cause

Let’s be honest: a lot of what comes out of the nonprofit world is...boring. Safe. Sanitized. It’s like we’re crafting our messages with a polite knock on the door, then tiptoeing away, hoping someone noticed. We talk about our causes as if we’re writing a grant application—polished, proper, efficient — and about as exciting as a tax form. And then we scratch our heads, wondering why no one seems to care.

Here’s the cold truth: you could have the most righteous cause on earth, and still, no one will move a muscle if your story doesn’t make them feel something. And it’s not because people are heartless; it’s because our messaging, packed with data and flattened into oblivion, doesn’t make anyone feel a thing. Movements aren’t built on “appropriate appeals.” They’re built when your story is so raw and so real that people can’t ignore it.

Our problem? We’re terrified of making people uncomfortable. Heaven forbid we push too hard or show the messy, real-life side of the work we do. We’d rather keep things clean and neutral, as if we're afraid of making waves. But true movements aren’t built from polite requests. They’re built from stories that grab people by the shoulders and demand attention—stories that cut through the clutter and make people give a damn.

How Playing It Safe Is Killing Your Message

Nonprofits tell their story like they’re apologizing for it. We dull the edges, bury the urgency under a layer of professionalism, and then cross our fingers that people will “respect” the cause enough to support it. But let’s get real—respect doesn’t build movements. Emotion does.

Think about the moments burned into public consciousness: a Black child being escorted to school by armed guards; women suffragettes chained to railings; a Vietnamese girl running, naked and burned, from napalm. These images didn’t simply inform—they demanded to be seen. They made people feel something so deep, they couldn’t just scroll past.

If you’re in the business of fighting for justice, survival, or basic human dignity, you cannot afford to play it safe. If the reality of your work is urgent, then your story has to hit people right where they feel it most. Otherwise, it’ll vanish into the digital void along with cute cat videos and celebrity tweets.

People Don’t Give Because They’re Convinced. They Give Because They’re Moved.

Want people to care about your cause? Stop trying to “inform” them to death with data and stats. Start telling stories that stick. Make them feel the problem. Don’t just say that millions are hungry—tell them about the child who walks ten miles to school on an empty stomach. The mother about to lose her home because a full-time job still doesn’t cover rent.

There’s a world of difference between, “We serve 1,000 meals a day,” and, “Last week, we met a man who broke down because that bowl of soup was the first meal he’d had in days.” One’s a nice fact. The other is a punch to the gut.

The Real Reason We’re Afraid of Being Real

Why don’t we tell these stories? Because it’s scary. Letting people see the raw truth means showing them a reality they might want to ignore. We worry they’ll turn away, unsubscribe, feel uncomfortable. But here’s the irony: if your story doesn’t make people uncomfortable, they’ll never care enough to lean in. If you’re only serving up a sanitized version of your mission, you’re just another quick swipe on their newsfeed.

Building a movement means crafting a message so real it becomes part of the cultural conversation. And that means being willing to push people a little—maybe a lot—outside their comfort zone.

Stop Worrying About Offending People

Let’s be blunt: if your story isn’t offending someone, you’re probably leaving out the best parts. Movements are, by their nature, disruptive. They challenge the status quo and make people rethink what’s easy and comfortable. If your message is too polished, too polite, then you’ve sanded down the very edge that could make people care.

Look at the images of police violence against civil rights marchers in the 1960s. They were offensive, shocking. They revealed a truth that many wanted to ignore. But that’s why they worked. They didn’t just “raise awareness”—they changed everything. Your work might not involve police violence, but if your cause is about justice, human rights, or survival, then the stakes are just as high. And if you’re not pushing people to confront it, your story is only half-told.

The Ask: Be Bold, Be Specific

Getting people to care is only the first step. Once they’re paying attention, show them what to do next. Too often, nonprofits tell a powerful story but then soft-pedal the ask, hoping people will just “get it.” But here’s the thing—people need direction. If they’re moved, you need to be clear about what you need. Be specific. Tell them exactly how their action—whether it’s a donation, volunteering, or advocacy—will change things. Don’t assume that stirring emotion will magically translate into action. Ask.

Turn Your Mission into a Movement

In the end, you’re not here just to raise money or boost awareness. You’re here to build a movement. And movements don’t come from polite, forgettable messaging. They come from stories that grab people by the collar and make them say, “I can’t walk away from this.”

If you want your mission to matter, stop being afraid. Stop being boring. Start telling stories that make people sit up, lean in, and feel the urgency in their bones. Because polite requests don’t change the world. Stories that demand attention do.

Ready to make your cause impossible to ignore? Let’s start building a movement together. Book a Fit Call, sign up for the newsletter, and let’s create a story that demands attention and drives change.