GOOD NEWS - Summer eNewsletter Articles
Re: Connect
Maximizing Your Marketing and Communications Impact
As nonprofits face the current economic crunch, resources and staff dedicated to marketing and communications efforts are usually the first casualties of cutbacks and reorganizations. Further, as many institutional funders and individual donors shift their giving priorities to the safety net services of food and shelter, other sectors such as education, after school programs, therapy and treatment programs, visual and performing arts, and the environment suffer a compounded decrease in giving and support.
Sharpening communications and marketing efforts is vital for organizations in these sectors, because only focused, compelling contact with your constituencies will ensure consistent support.
Even with reductions in communications and marketing resources, donors and volunteers still need updates, progress reports and confirmation of agency successes. To evaluate your communications efforts, begin by asking these questions:
Are you still communicating with donors and supporters? How often?
Have your communications been effective? How are you measuring effectiveness?
Are you reaching all segments/demographics of your donor population?
How strong is your internet presence? How do people obtain more information about you?
If you are unclear or unsatisfied with the answers to any of these questions, a plethora of tools is available for nonprofits to maximize communications with donors, volunteers, advocates and communities. Knowing your organization's supporters is key to a successful communications and marketing program-and finding the right balance between effective communication and efficient use of resources is unique to each agency.
To find solutions to common marketing concerns--such as creating stronger messaging, exploring communications mediums, and utilizing limited resources, contact us...we can help!
Ask NOT What Your Nonprofit Can Do For You
But What You Can Do for Your Nonprofit!
In these challenging times, the nonprofits that we know and love are working hard to keep their doors open and their services available to those who need them. As you may know, individual supporters like us sustain nonprofits. "Individual giving, which is always the largest component of charitable giving, was an estimated $229.28 billion, or 75% of the total giving in 2008." Giving USA, (2009).
So follow your heart! Give to the causes that are most important to you, whether it is furry friends, our local parks, children's education, or the healing arts that you are most passionate about. If your giving budget is limited, consider these ways to follow your dollar gift...
> Volunteer - providing in-kind services can help save nonprofits expenses, from photography at events to database entry or help with mailings, it all helps!
> In-kind Gifts - there are many items that nonprofits would need to purchase if they were not donated, such as computers, software, furniture, supplies, etc.
> Board Service - consider joining the board of one of our most beloved nonprofits, helping them to become sustainable through hard times like these.
If a nonprofit you are involved with could benefit from guidance in creating a well diversified revenue plan, an effective communications plan with limited resources or support in creating efficient systems, we would love to help! Contact Us for more information.
