Don’t Forget the Sugar: Finding the Sweet Spot in Your Organization’s Storytelling

I sat down with my coffee, finally ready for that first sip.

It looked perfect. It smelled amazing. But the moment the warm taste hit my lips, I knew I had forgotten the sugar.

For a second, I tried to convince myself it was fine. I sat there, inhaling the aroma, cozy on the couch, not wanting to get up. I took another sip, hoping I could make it work. But it wasn’t going to carry me through a day filled with strategies, deadlines, and the impact I needed to create.

So I got up. I started over. I listened to the drip of the machine, waited, stirred in the sugar this time. And when I finally took that next sip, it hit the spot. Everything else was there, the mug, the warmth, the aroma, but it was the sugar that made it worth savoring.

And it hit me: this is what so much Jewish school and organizational marketing is missing.

In Jewish life, every moment has a why. Here’s how to share it so others feel it too.

The Missing Sweetness

We’re great at showing the what, the activity, the event, the photo of kids doing something cute. But if we stop there, it’s like handing someone a beautiful cup of coffee with no sweetness.

People see what’s happening, but they don’t feel why it matters.

That “why” is the sweet spot. It’s the overlap between what’s happening in your program and the deeper value it brings to families, students, and the community.

Finding the Sweet Spot

The good news? You don’t need a marketing degree to get there. You just need to pause and ask yourself two questions every time you share a story:

1. What happened? (the activity)

2. Why does it matter? (the impact/value)

Put those two pieces together, and you’ve got the sweet spot.

Example:

• What happened: Our preschoolers baked a honey cake.

• Why it matters: They got to taste tradition and carry Jewish joy home for Rosh Hashanah.

• The sweet spot: It’s not just a recipe — it’s a memory they’ll keep for life.

Making It Feel Natural (Not Salesy)

Here’s the shift: you’re not “selling” programs. You’re telling stories.

• Instead of “Enroll in our premier STEM program,” → try “When a child builds a circuit, they’re not just learning tech, they’re discovering the joy of problem-solving.”

• Instead of “Join our community event,” → try “One night, one challah, endless impact, because every family belongs here.”

When you write like you’d talk to a friend, you invite people in. They don’t feel marketed to. They feel connected.

Why It Matters

When you consistently share the sweet spot:

Parents don’t just see activities. They see how their child’s confidence and Jewish identity are being built every day.

Donors don’t just see logistics. They see the ripple effect of their support, how one moment of giving becomes a lasting impact.

Community members don’t just see events. They see the values that make your organization matter.

That’s the real sugar. That’s what makes your story worth savoring.

Try This Today

Next time you’re about to post, pause and do a quick “coffee check”:

• Write down what (what happened).

• Add the why (why it matters).

• Put them together into one short, human sentence.

• End with an invitation: See it for yourself.

That’s your sweet spot. That’s the sugar that makes your marketing warm, authentic, and irresistible.

The lesson? In Jewish organizational life, we don’t need to sell. We need to share the sweetness of our values in action.

When you find that sweet spot, people don’t just see what you do; they taste why it matters.