April 30, 2026 | The Magic Factory at Brewhalla | Downtown Fargo
April 30, 2026 | The Magic Factory at Brewhalla | Downtown Fargo
As winter melts into spring across the Red River Valley, mission-driven leaders will gather at The Magic Factory in Brewhalla for WellTold on April 30, 2026. It’s a day where the work you love meets the stories that move it forward. You’ll reconnect with your purpose, meet people who understand the late nights and big dreams, and learn to tell your story in a way that makes others want to be part of it.
As winter melts into spring across the Red River Valley, mission-driven leaders will gather at The Magic Factory in Brewhalla for WellTold on April 30, 2026. It’s a day where the work you love meets the stories that move it forward. You’ll reconnect with your purpose, meet people who understand the late nights and big dreams, and learn to tell your story in a way that makes others want to be part of it.
You know your work matters. Every day, you create real change in your community: lives transformed, problems solved, hope restored. But in a world where everyone is scrolling and nobody is listening, even meaningful work can disappear into the noise.
WellTold exists to change that. In one day, you’ll gain the tools and confidence to tell your story in a way that makes people stop, feel something, and take action.
This isn’t your typical nonprofit conference. You’ll spend the day at Fargo’s Magic Factory, surrounded by people who care about the same things you do. You’ll learn from storytellers who’ve been in your shoes and leave with ideas you can use right away.
Register Now and
Dream Big!
In-person
Regular Bird: $227 thru 2/28
Late Bird: $297 thru 4/23 (or until sold out)
Online
Regular Bird: $97 thru 4/28
Investment in Your Mission
Your in-person registration includes a full day of sessions, meals, materials, and an ongoing connection to the WellTold community.
Need a little support to attend? Email Annie@wetellwell.com to inquire about scholarships.
Telling the Impossible Story challenges the myth that every powerful fundraising story needs a single hero or a neatly resolved ending. When impact is collective, preventative, or unfolds over time, fundraisers are often left wondering how to communicate meaning without oversimplifying the work. This session offers a fresh, ethical approach to storytelling—one that invites donors into shared purpose, sustained impact, and the deeper truth of how change really happens.
In a world shaped by constant urgency, fundraising stories are often built around the crisis of the moment: the immediate need, the near-term win, the fast result. But generosity is rarely driven by short timelines. Donors give because they believe in futures they may never fully witness and communities they may never personally benefit from. Donors may give because of the mission, but they stay for the shared vision of the world we are trying to create together. This closing session explores how fundraisers can tell stories that inspire hope, sustain commitment, and invite people into something meant to last. Together, we’ll consider how future-facing storytelling can motivate generosity not just for today’s needs, but for the world we are intentionally building.
Presence—not polish—is what makes people lean in.
Whether you’re addressing funders, donors, staff or your broader community, your ability to lead is inseparable from how you show up. In this interactive session, Dayna Del Val helps nonprofit leaders move beyond performance and into grounded, visible authority.
You’ll be on your feet, reflecting and practicing as you explore what it truly takes to feel at ease in your body, clear in your message, and intentional about how you enter a room—whether that room is a board meeting, a stage or a Zoom screen.
This talk focuses not just on what happens while you’re speaking, but the often-overlooked inner work that allows your message to land with confidence, credibility and impact—so your audience doesn’t just listen, they act.
Boards make decisions every day. But when those decisions are shaped only by reports and spreadsheets, something important can get lost — the people and stories behind the work.
In this interactive session, we’ll explore how storytelling can strengthen board leadership by grounding governance in lived experience and community voice. You’ll learn how stories help board members better understand impact, stay connected to mission, and make decisions that are thoughtful, inclusive, and aligned.
Whether you’re a longtime board leader or newer to governance, you’ll walk away with practical tools (and a few laughs) to move beyond bullet points and bring more meaning into the boardroom.
Most organizations skip straight to the ask. They meet someone new and immediately request a donation, enrollment, or volunteer commitment. Then they wonder why people don’t stick around.
Real relationships follow predictable patterns. Curiosity leads to familiarity. Familiarity builds trust. Trust enables commitment. Commitment deepens through recognition.
In this session, Max will introduce the Seasons of Story framework, a cyclical approach to storytelling that honors the natural pace of human connection. You’ll learn when to educate (Spring), when to engage (Summer), when to invite action (Fall), and when to reflect with gratitude (Winter).
Through real examples from Tellwell’s work with nonprofits and universities, you’ll discover how to create psychological safety before asking for support, build trust through consistency rather than performance, and transform passive audiences into active partners who carry your mission forward.
Stop treating storytelling like a funnel. Start treating it like a fire that keeps burning because you keep tending it.
As the host for the virtual attendees, Anika will be inviting people into conversation and connection throughout the day. She will offer spaces to share what folks are learning, answer questions about applying the frameworks, and helping attendees commit to putting their new knowledge into practice.
I don’t need to tell you storytelling is critical in nonprofit fundraising. But too many leave millions of dollars on the table because they’re only telling half the story. Yes, millions. Yes, half the story!
Worst yet, fundraisers often use decades-old, transactional approaches to storytelling when it comes to our major donors. We’re going to talk about how your team can scale revenue by moving beyond the mission-story and into the investment-level-story of your organization.
I’ll share the most powerful fundraising steps my clients take to attract and secure larger, general-operating dollars from investment-level donors. And, that’s what I call financial sustainability.
As the host for the virtual attendees, Anika will be inviting people into conversation and connection throughout the day. She will offer spaces to share what folks are learning, answer questions about applying the frameworks, and helping attendees commit to putting their new knowledge into practice.
WellTold is uniquely focused on the intersection of storytelling and mission-driven work. Unlike broader nonprofit conferences, we offer an intimate, hands-on experience specifically designed to help you transform your organization’s impact into compelling narratives that resonate with donors, volunteers, and communities.
Yes! We offer a fully engaging virtual experience that allows you to participate from anywhere. Virtual attendees receive access to all sessions, digital materials, and opportunities to connect with other mission-driven leaders through our online platform.
You’ll leave Well Told with:
Online on Eventbrite
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This prairie city has become a center for social innovation. Small enough that everyone knows everyone, big enough that ideas can take flight. Grassroots movements work alongside established nonprofits, and everyone figures it out together.
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Fargo doesn’t do fake. The conversations are real, the coffee is strong, and when someone says “let’s stay in touch,” they mean it. Ideas don’t just get discussed here; they get done.
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By late April, we’re ready for something new. The snow has melted, the sun shines a little longer, and there’s a feeling in the air like anything is possible. It’s a good time to shake off winter and reimagine how you tell your story.
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With resources in hand, we put our plans into action by implementing programs and initiatives that directly address the identified needs. Our team works tirelessly to make a positive impact on the ground.
Work hands-on with master storytellers who understand the unique challenges of nonprofit communication
Transform program data into donor inspiration, volunteer experiences into viral stories, and mission statements into movements
Build lasting relationships with leaders who share both your challenges and your dreams for greater impact
Get personalized attention and practical solutions tailored to your specific mission
Pick up your name badge and swag bag, then connect with other attendees!
Coffee & Connection after you get your name tag and swag. DJ 1Pretty Ricky will be spinning tunes.
Telling the Impossible Story – T. Clay Buck
The Power of Presence: Audaciously Own Your Message & Lead with Visible Authority – Dayna Del Val
Narratives That Move Boards: How Story-Driven Governance Educates, Empowers, & Inspires Action – Christal M. Cherry
Lunch catered by Heart-n-Soul Community Cafe
Seasons of Story Framework – Max Kringen
Why Fundraising Feels Hard – Noah Barnett
The Story-Enabled Fundraising Framework – Scott Holdman
The Truth About What’s Missing in Nonprofit Storytelling… – Sherry Quam Taylor
Stories for the Long Horizon: Fundraising Beyond the Urgent - T. Clay Buck
Action Planning - Max Kringen
Wrap up the day with an activity to do some good while you connect with fellow WellTolders about everything you’ve learned!
Together, we bridge strategic donor engagement with powerful narratives to help your mission stand out.
Tellwell Story Co. Creative storytelling specialists focused on social impact
Masters of donor management and fundraising technology
Seeking to amplify their impact
Looking for fresh approaches
Shaping stronger communities
Ready to deepen donor relationships
Building meaningful connections
Ready to make real change?
Access every session replay whenever you need it.
Storytelling templates, guides, and frameworks ready to use.
Connect year-round with other changemakers. Share wins, ask questions, and support each other.
The Tellwell team provides ongoing support when you get stuck or hit a wall.
Deepen your learning after the conference.
Spark a friendship or a resource to be used for your whole career!
You have a story worth telling. Not the sanitized version that sounds like every other nonprofit, but the real story about why you started, who you’ve helped, and what keeps you going when it’s hard.
At WellTold, you’ll find the words for that story. You’ll find the courage to tell it, and you’ll find a community of people who believe the right story at the right moment can change someone’s entire world.
Come to Fargo. Bring your mission, your questions, and your hope. Let’s figure out how to make your work impossible to ignore.
Make your impact impossible to ignore
Craft a story impossible to forget
Create a cause impossible to resist
When you sponsor WellTold, you invest in the people who show up for their communities every day—nonprofit leaders who are ready to share their stories and inspire action. Your support helps them find their voice, speak with boldness, and lead with confidence. You’re not just funding storytelling—you’re joining a community that believes good stories, well told, can change everything.
T. Clay Buck, CFRE, is Founder and Principal of Next River Fundraising Strategies, where he helps nonprofits build data-informed, strategically sound, and deeply human fundraising programs. With more than 30 years of experience—from Development Assistant to Chief Development Officer—he brings a practitioner’s insight to strategy, systems, and storytelling that drive lasting donor relationships. A Certified Fund Raising Executive and Certificate holder in Philanthropic Psychology, Clay also teaches fundraising at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Dayna Del Val, MA, ACC is a coach, speaker, writer and retreat leader who empowers individuals to unlock their creativity, confidence and communication for meaningful impact.
Through her Audaciously Visible coaching program, Brave Middle Ground podcast and
Uninterrupted retreats & (re)Discover Your Spark travel experiences and keynotes, she helps people craft compelling messages, foster understanding and reconnect with their passions. Her work centers on bold transformation, guiding others to find clarity, embracing authenticity and sharing ideas that inspire change.
Christal M. Cherry is the Beyoncé of board leadership.
Founder of The Board Pro, Christal is a nationally recognized nonprofit consultant, speaker, and coach who brings courage, curiosity, and care to every boardroom. With over two decades of experience in fundraising, board governance, leadership development, and DEI strategy, she helps nonprofit leaders and boards move from stuck to soaring. Known for her humor, wisdom, and truth-telling, Christal turns board retreats into transformational experiences and trains CEOs to lead with intention and inclusion.
She’s also a published author, adoptive mom, and breakfast lover who never shies away from the tough conversations—or the opportunity to make your board braver, bolder, and more effective.
Learn more at www.theboardpro.com
Max Kringen is the Founder and Chief Storyteller of Tellwell Story Co., a creative studio based in Fargo, North Dakota, that helps mission-driven organizations tell stories that build trust and create belonging.
Growing up in small-town North Dakota, Max learned early that real connection demands safety. That insight now shapes everything he creates. Over the past fifteen years, Max and his team have partnered with hundreds of nonprofits, colleges, and purpose-driven businesses, developing the Seasons of Story framework: a cyclical approach to storytelling that mirrors natural relationship rhythms.
As founder of WellTold, the nonprofit storytelling conference, Max creates spaces where communicators and fundraisers can learn to tell stories that matter. His work stems from a deeply personal belief that everyone’s story deserves to be shared, especially those who’ve spent years afraid to tell it.
Max believes the best storytelling doesn’t manipulate or perform. It shows up consistently, creates safety, and invites people into something worth joining. When organizations learn to tell stories this way, strangers become curious, the curious become committed, and the committed become evangelists who carry the story further than any marketing campaign ever could.
Noah Barnett is the Chief Strategy Officer at DonorDock, a nonprofit CRM and fundraising platform built specifically for lean teams that need clarity, focus, and momentum—not more complexity. In his role, Noah works closely with nonprofit leaders and fundraising teams to help them simplify their technology, strengthen donor relationships, and build systems that actually support the way their teams work.
With more than a decade of experience across nonprofit technology, fundraising strategy, and go-to-market leadership, Noah has partnered with organizations ranging from grassroots nonprofits to national brands. He brings a practical, operator’s perspective shaped by time spent inside fast-growing software companies, alongside deep empathy for the realities nonprofit teams face every day: limited time, limited staff, and big expectations.
Noah’s work sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, and human-centered design. He is particularly focused on helping organizations move from “doing more” to doing what matters most—using better systems, clearer priorities, and smarter tools (including AI) to lighten the load on fundraising teams without losing the heart of the work.
He lives in Arizona with his family and is passionate about building organizations that are both effective and deeply human.
Sherry Quam Taylor works with business-minded Nonprofit CEOs whose Strategic Plans require expansive budgets, larger amounts of unrestricted revenue for infrastructure, and a plan for long-term stability.
As a result of learning her methodology, Sherry’s clients become sustainable, diversify revenue, and know how to add significant amounts gen-ops revenue to their budgets. But mostly, their development departments and boards transform into high-ROI revenue generators – aligning their hours with relational dollars and are set free from time-consuming transactional activities like events, appeals, and campaigns.
Sherry is frequently featured in publications like Forbes Nonprofit Council and Philanthropy.com, and is a co-host of The Nonprofit Show, ranked #1 on Feedspot’s 100 Best Nonprofit Podcasts list.
Anika Horn supports ecosystem builders in doing their work well, with impact and without burning out.
She believes that a rising tide lifts all boats and that community wins over competition every time. Anchored in these beliefs, she teaches champions and advocates of mission-driven work how to take a systems approach to supporting the doers, dreamers, tinkerers and makers in their communities.
Anika pours her passion for ecosystem building into advancing networks with training and consulting, thought leadership and her podcast Ecosystems for Change. She works with clients to tell meaningful stories about their ecosystems and the people who help make everything happen. She also lovingly curates a newsletter for ecosystem builders every two weeks and cares deeply about hosting meaningful convenings for changemakers.
Throughout her career, Anika has launched several support programs for entrepreneurs and helped convene purpose-driven communities such as CreativeMornings Shenandoah Valley, Zebras Unite, ESHIP Champions and Rebelle Con.
