- In a summer 2025 webinar, data experts from Providence CORE shared tips on how to tell stories with data.
- The webinar outlined five key steps to help craft compelling, memorable, and impactful data stories that drive change.
- In this blog post, we dive into those steps and some of the reasons why data storytelling is so important.
In today's data-driven, limited-attention span world, the ability to tell compelling stories with data is more important than ever. Data storytelling is not just about presenting numbers; it's about weaving those numbers into narratives that drive action, inspire change, and make complex information accessible to a wider audience.
In a Summer 2025 webinar for a group of community-based organizations, Sarah Roth and Apoorva Somayazulu from the Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) Data for Change team shared insights on how to use a storytelling framework to enhance data communication and advocacy efforts.
Read on for key lessons from the webinar. Or watch the full webinar on CORE's YouTube channel.
Why tell stories with data?
Before delving into how to tell data stories, Sarah and Apoorva shared why a data storytelling approach is so important.
Telling stories in a compelling and emotional way gives your data a richer, more nuanced meaning. It helps humanize the data so that you and your audience understand the people who make up that data. In fact, when we see or hear a compelling story, our brains release dopamine, triggering emotions and helping to capture that information more accurately. This helps your audience better leverage that information and turn it into action.
Five steps to craft data stories that drive change
In the webinar, Sarah and Apoorva outlined five key steps to help craft compelling, memorable, and impactful data stories. Let's take a look at those steps!
1. Understand your audience
The first step in effective data storytelling is understanding what makes your audience tick. Different groups have different interests or concerns and will engage with your data in different ways.
For example, when speaking to community members, it’s helpful to show them you understand their needs and priorities. One way to do that is through real-world examples that demonstrate the impact of your work. On the other hand, when addressing funders, you should be thorough and show your value, what makes you unique, and what sets your program apart.
Additional considerations include evaluating the level of detail your audience needs, the types of stories that will connect with them, and what you want them to do with this information.
2. Build a strong data foundation
A compelling data story begins with a strong foundation of accurate and relevant data. This means taking the time to review and analyze your data to ensure it is complete and reliable.
Without this foundation, your story will fall apart. Avoid the temptation to selectively use data to support a preconceived narrative. A balanced, honest analysis is the best way to build trust and reliability.
3. Craft your narrative
Once you have a solid foundation, it’s time to craft your narrative. Like any great story, a good data story has a clear and compelling narrative structure.
- Start by setting the scene with key context and background info.
- Next comes the conflict, where you describe the core issue – often a problem or opportunity.
- Finally, you begin to resolve the tension with your proposed solution or course of action.
This three-part narrative arc creates intrigue, tension, and, eventually, resolution, helping your audience stay fully engaged with your data story.
Check out the full webinar for more ideas on how to structure your data story, including the “big idea” approach championed by author Nancy Durate in the book DataStory.
4. Enhance your story with simple visuals
Visuals can make complex data more engaging and easier to understand. Charts, graphs, diagrams, and even short videos can help clarify patterns, highlight changes, or emphasize contrasts.
Simple go-tos like bar, pie, donut, or line charts can be great for helping audiences quickly grasp your point. The key, according to our speakers, is to keep it simple. More complex visuals may look impressive but can add mental burden for your audience and distract them from the points you want to convey.
For more information on data visualization, check our Introduction to Data Visualization and Data Visualization Principles webinars.
5. Close with a call to action
Finally, every data story should end with a clear call to action. This means telling your audience exactly what you want them to do with the information you have provided.
Whether it's approving a plan, making a decision, or sharing your story with others, a clear call to action ensures that your audience walks away knowing what steps to take next.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you are on your way to communicating data in a way that is engaging, memorable, and actionable. By understanding your audience, building a solid foundation of data, crafting a compelling narrative, using visuals effectively, and ending with a clear call to action, you can turn numbers into narratives that drive change and inspire action.
For more data storytelling insights, watch the full webinar on CORE’s YouTube channel!
To download the presentation deck (PDF), click here.
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