VoiceTone
Voice and Tone
The DroidBuilders voice is the consistent personality behind all written communications. It never changes -- it is always warm, grounded, and genuine. Tone adjusts based on context: more celebratory at an event, more direct in a press release, more informative in technical documentation.
The DroidBuilders Voice
Three words define how we always sound:
| Word | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Warm | We are a community of volunteers who care about the people we serve. Our writing reflects that care -- never corporate, never cold. |
| Precise | We are builders. We get the details right. Our writing is clear, specific, and accurate -- no vague platitudes. |
| Joyful | We exist to create moments of delight. That spirit shows in our words -- playful when appropriate, never self-serious. |
Tone by Context
| Context | Tone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Social media (event day) | Enthusiastic, celebratory | Share the energy of the moment; photos first |
| Social media (general) | Warm, conversational | Invite people in; celebrate the community |
| Website homepage | Inviting, confident, mission-focused | Clear value statement without jargon |
| Website wiki / how-to | Direct, informative, accessible | Step-by-step; no assumed knowledge |
| Donation / fundraising | Heartfelt, specific, impact-focused | Concrete stories; never guilt-driven |
| Press / media | Factual, professional, accessible | Jargon-free; lead with the mission |
| Event signage | Brief, joyful, bold | One clear idea per piece |
| Crisis / serious communications | Calm, direct, empathetic | Facts first; no speculation |
Writing Principles
Lead with impact, not process
| Avoid | Preferred |
|---|---|
| DroidBuilders, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes
volunteer events... |
We bring full-scale droids to children's hospitals, schools, and community
events -- all volunteer, all heart. |
Be specific. Specificity builds trust.
| Avoid | Preferred |
|---|---|
| We've helped a lot of people. | In 2024, DroidBuilders volunteers made appearances at over 60 events
across the country. |
Speak to the person, not the crowd.
| Avoid | Preferred |
|---|---|
| Attendees are encouraged to interact with the droids. | Come say hello -- the droids are friendly. |
Earn the exclamation mark
Enthusiasm is good. Overuse of ! dilutes the impact of genuine excitement. Reserve it for moments that truly call for it -- not every sentence.
Fundraising Language -- Required Rules
Critical: DroidBuilders is community-funded through donations that support our mission and community presence -- not individual build projects. All fundraising language must reflect this distinction. It matters deeply to our community and must be respected in every communication.
Never reference "droid builds" as a funding purpose. This implies the organization subsidizes personal projects and has caused real controversy in the builder community.
Approved fundraising frames:
- Mission and community impact (school visits, hospital appearances, events)
- Operational costs that enable outreach (logistics, supplies, insurance, transportation)
- Community infrastructure (website, wiki, builder resources)
- Organizational sustainability
| Avoid | Preferred |
|---|---|
| Help us fund new droid builds and keep our builders equipped. | Your support keeps our droids on the road and our volunteers in the
community. |
| Donations help builders complete their projects. | Every dollar goes toward the events and infrastructure that make our
outreach possible. |
Words We Use and Avoid
| Use This | Not This | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers | Members, employees | Reflects who we actually are |
| Community | Fanbase, fans | We serve broadly, not just fans |
| Builders | Makers, creators | Industry-specific, respected term in our community |
| Outreach, appearances | Shows, performances | Reflects service orientation, not entertainment |
| Replica droids | Costumes | Droids are props and robots, not worn costumes |
| Mission | Operations | Keeps focus on purpose over process |
| Support the mission | Donate to DroidBuilders | Action-oriented and impact-focused |
Writing for Accessibility
- Aim for a reading level of grade 7-9 for public-facing content
- Spell out abbreviations and acronyms on first use
- Use active voice; avoid passive constructions
- Break long passages into short paragraphs with descriptive subheadings
- Write descriptive alt text for all images (see AccessibilityStandards)