Do enough people outside of your organization know what its main contribution is to this world? What your work is leading towards? Do they recognize your personal nonprofit branding and know what it is your organization stands to change? Taking a leaf from the inventions of the superhero genres is [...]
This is part 3 in a 4-part series. Read part 1 and part 2. Communications plans help offer structure and strategy that can save you time and energy in the long run, while getting your desired objectives accomplished. Having a coherent communications plan where you package your message will help [...]
If you are working to master the messaging of your mission to share with the public, start by looking within. Sounds very spiritual doesn’t it? But really, good nonprofit strategic communication begins within an organization before ever setting out to share with everyone else. Before you communicate with an audience, [...]
You enter the grocery store cold and with a head full of items to buy. A moment later an aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air. You feel a little better. Your mood lifts ever so slightly. Shopping feels less like a pain and more pleasurable as you settle [...]
Sometimes one of the biggest obstacles nonprofits have to overcome is the fact that “nobody gets what we do.” As a member of the organization, you understand what you do every day… but to the general public, they just don’t understand who you serve, how your mission works, or the [...]
Perhaps the most challenging concept for corporations to implement is that of “Corporate social responsibility.” This is a corporation's willingness and ability to be socially responsible and help the community – both the local community they serve as well as more marginalized global communities. The concept of philanthropy however is [...]
When you work in the fundraising space, sometimes it seems as though you refurbish the same materials. Grants language? Check the latest proposal, or if you are very organized, a master proposal that contains updated language. Impact? Check the annual report. Heartwarming stories? Check your annual appeal letter. While writing [...]
Now that we've entered a new decade (by that I mean it's now the 2020s; I know there wasn't a year zero or whatever), an ever-popular theme for fundraising events has renewed life: the 1920s or Great Gatsby-themed gala. Not since 2013 when the Leonardo DiCaprio-led movie adaptation was released [...]
Have you ever wondered who these ‘expert’ speakers are that you see presenting at nonprofit conferences? How did they get in that position and how, when you’re ready to push yourself out of your comfort zone, can you get there? It’s not just about testing yourself and doing something different. [...]
What’s in a nonprofit brand? Everything. Think about the most popular and well-known charities. What comes to mind? I’ll bet you’re able to envision who they are, why they do what they do, and what they do in an instant. For example, Charity: water. The ASPCA. The ACLU. Red Cross. [...]
Everything you do emanates from the WHY and WHAT of your existence. Your mission! And both the why and what are important, because if folks don’t understand why you exist it’s difficult to inspire them with what you are doing. I always ask a new client what would happen were they to [...]
In Part 1 of this three-part series about developing your unique, essential “Case for Support.” I introduced the concept of the nonprofit mission, values and vision triad. Together they’re how you are known in the community. They become your brand. In Part 2 we dove deeper into what constitutes your [...]