Success Story Suggestions for SNAP-Ed Connection

SNAP-Ed Connection may edit the text of success stories that have been submitted. To decrease edits, use the following tips:

  • Reading level below 10th grade, preferably 6th-8th *
  • Good grammar and no typos
  • Short paragraphs
  • Use bulleted lists whenever possible
  • Succinct writing, preferably <350 words

Include Images

Images make an excellent story! When possible, include:

  • 3-5 images of programming - make sure you have photo releases on file
  • Program logo
  • Agency logo

Images help tell the story. We may use the images in the article on our site, in our e-Bulletin, and in Tweets.

Write for someone who has never heard of SNAP-Ed

Please write this story for a non-technical person who has never heard of your program. Use the following guidelines:

  • Most important part: Tell people how your program changes the lives of people in the first 1-2 sentences. This is your onlychance to make them want to keep reading.
  • Tell an anecdote next! Draw people in with a moving story.
  • Communicate success in simple terms
  • You can use numbers, but state the conclusion first and in simple terms. For example: “Children ate more vegetables after going through the program. 80% ate more vegetables after the program compared to 50% before the program.
  • Use short sentences
  • Avoid jargon
  • Present the best side of your program.

Sample Outline (you do not have to include all of these components, this is an example)

  1. Organization that runs the program
  2. Title of program
  3. Describe how the program changes lives in 1-2 sentences
  4. Describe the program in more detail if needed
  5. Describe the success of the program. Include as many of the following as possible:
  6. participant stories
  7. quotes
  8. statistics (use the most important and help people understand what they mean)
  9. Type of program (nutrition education/direct education, PSE, social marketing, etc.)
  10. What year(s) was this program in place?
  11. How many people participate in the program?
  12. Who is the target audience?
  13. How is the program evaluated?
  14. SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework Indicators (this will be helpful for other SNAP-Ed programs - but notice this is toward the bottom of the story) ** If this is a story about using the Evaluation Framework, this information should appear in items 4 or 5. **
  15. If people have questions about the program, who can they contact?
  16. Email and/or phone number for contact person
  17. Web site addresses for program and/or organization

* There are several web apps available to test readability. You can also test in Microsoft Word. To test the reading level in Microsoft Word:

- Choose REVIEW tab

- Choose Spelling & Grammar

- When you are finished reviewing the document, a summary will display. The summary contains a reading level using the Flesch-Kincaid formula.