How to structure a presentation to tell a story
Charity advice: How to write a compelling presentation
In any charity presentation, engaging your audience is one of the most powerful ways to ensure that your message resonates and sticks.
By creating opportunities for your audience to actively participate in your presentation, you make your message more memorable and effective—ultimately motivating people to take action. But how do you do this?
Here’s a guide to including audience participation in your charity presentations.
This post is part of our series of articles on presentation and public speaking advice for charities.
Download the Charity Presentation Skills Guide here
What is audience participation within a presentation?
Let's check that we're all working to the same definition of audience participation...
Audience participation in a presentation refers to actively involving the audience through interactive elements like questions, polls, discussions, or hands-on activities.
Audience participation transforms the presentation from a one-way lecture into an engaging, collaborative experience.
Why is Audience Participation Useful in Presentations?
Audience participation transforms your presentation from a monologue into a dialogue.
Whether you’re presenting to potential donors, volunteers, or even policymakers, engaging your audience helps them internalise your cause. A presentation is not just about delivering information; it’s about inspiring action. When your audience is actively involved, they feel like they have a stake in the outcome, which encourages them to support your charity in meaningful ways.
Think of it this way: when your audience is passive, they may nod along but won't retain much. When they’re actively engaged, they remember your message long after they leave. Engagement builds connection, and that connection is key to influencing behaviour and inspiring support.
How do I add Audience Participation to a Presentation?
1. Ask Questions to Invite Reflection
One of the simplest ways to engage your audience is by asking questions. Questions create interaction and give your audience the opportunity to reflect on your message. Instead of just presenting facts, ask open-ended questions that encourage them to think critically about the issue at hand.
For example, if your charity works to fight hunger, you could ask:
- “How would your life change if you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from?”
- “Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to go to bed hungry?”
These questions invite your audience to put themselves in the shoes of those you’re helping and begin to empathise with your cause. It’s also a great way to encourage participation and make your presentation feel more like a conversation.
You can also use questions to clarify understanding, which is great for ensuring that you are successfully communicating your message:
- “What do you think is the most urgent issue facing the community today?”
- “Why do you think access to education is so important in breaking the cycle of poverty?”
By posing questions throughout your presentation, you engage the audience intellectually and emotionally, helping them connect with your message.
2. Incorporate Interactive Elements
Another great way to encourage audience participation is to incorporate interactive elements into your presentation. These can range from simple questions to more structured activities that get people physically involved.
Here are a few ideas for incorporating participation:
- Live polls: Tools like Slido or Mentimeter allow you to conduct polls in real-time, where your audience can vote on questions and see the results immediately. This encourages everyone to participate and gives you valuable feedback on their views.
- Show of hands: Ask your audience to raise their hands in response to a question, such as: “How many of you have ever volunteered for a charity?” or “Who here believes that education can lift people out of poverty?”
- Short activities: Break up your presentation with a brief activity. For example, you could ask your audience to write down one action they could take to support your cause, or have them discuss a question in pairs for a few minutes.
These interactive elements help keep your audience alert and engaged. They also break up the presentation, so it doesn’t feel like a continuous lecture.
3. Speak Directly to Your Audience
Another way to foster engagement is by speaking directly to your audience. This can involve referencing individuals or groups within the room or tailoring your examples to the specific interests or concerns of your audience.
- Personalise your message: If you’re presenting to a group of corporate donors, highlight how their support aligns with their values or business goals. If you're speaking to local volunteers, focus on the difference they can make within their own community.
- Use relatable examples: Speak to your audience's experiences and challenges. Use examples or stories that they can relate to—whether it’s the impact of poverty, the power of education, or the need for mental health support.
By speaking directly to your audience, you show that you understand them and their needs. This makes them feel seen and valued, which increases the likelihood they will engage with your message. It feels like you understand them and that you are speaking directly to them.
Other Tips for Keeping Your Audience Engaged
While asking questions, incorporating interactive elements, and speaking directly to your audience are key strategies, here are a few additional tips for fostering engagement during your presentation:
- Tell Stories: We’re hardwired to respond to stories. They help us relate emotionally to a cause and make abstract issues more tangible. Share personal stories of individuals or communities your charity has helped, or use success stories to show the impact of donations or volunteer time.
- Use Visual Aids in your Presentation: People absorb information differently, and using photos, videos, and infographics can help make your points clearer and more compelling. Visuals can also serve as conversation starters or points for discussion.
- Vary Your Tone and Pace: A monotone voice can put people to sleep! Varying your tone and pace helps keep your presentation dynamic and engaging. Pausing at key moments also gives your audience time to reflect.
- Make It Fun: Find ways to inject some fun into your presentation. This could mean adding humour where appropriate or doing a quick icebreaker activity at the start of your presentation to build rapport and energise the group.
What are the Benefits of Audience Participation in a Presentation?
- Improved Retention: When your audience is actively engaged, they are more likely to remember your message. The interaction creates a deeper connection with the material.
- Stronger Relationships: Engaging your audience helps build trust and rapport. It makes them feel like they are part of the conversation, not just passive listeners.
- Increased Action: Ultimately, the goal of your presentation is to inspire action—whether that’s to donate, volunteer, or get involved in other ways. Audience participation is a proven way to increase the likelihood that your audience will take the desired action.
Key Takeaways
- Ask Questions: Engage your audience intellectually and emotionally by asking open-ended questions that get them thinking.
- Use Interactive Elements: Incorporate live polls, ask for a show of hands, or even include a short activity to keep your audience engaged.
- Speak Directly to Your Audience: Tailor your examples to the specific needs or interests of your audience, and make them feel personally involved in your cause.
In Conclusion
Audience participation is one of the most powerful tools you have to make your charity presentation more impactful. By making your audience feel involved and invested in your cause, you build a connection that leads to greater retention of your message and motivates them to take action.
So, next time you’re preparing for a presentation, think about how you can actively engage your audience—ask questions, incorporate interactive elements, and speak directly to them. Your presentation will not only be more engaging but also more effective in inspiring support for your charity’s mission.
Meet your charity public speaking expert...
Hi!
I’m Rich Watts and I design and deliver presentation skills training for charities (and a host of other organisations too!) that need their people to inspire, persuade and motivate audiences. I am fortunate enough to have won the UK Business Speaker of the Year competition way back in 2012, and since then I have been using all of my geeky knowledge and Third Sector experience to help charities like yours.
