Understanding donor identity will strengthen your fundraising. My daughter graduated from Oberlin College. At the ceremony, speakers repeatedly encouraged the grads to go change the world. They were greeted with loud cheers. It was obvious that from alumni to faculty, to graduating students and their younger friends, Oberlin has a strong sense of self. It’s […]
Why aren’t nonprofits getting the recognition they deserve?
Attention, please! When you work at a nonprofit, long hours and tons of responsibility go with the territory. It’s not about making money or getting accolades; it’s about creating an impact. You’re working hard, you’re making a difference. But your friends, family, and sometimes even colleagues don’t have a clear idea of what you do. […]
Trust, more valuable than money
Trust is one of those things that you can’t necessarily put a dollar value on, but you know matters, a lot. But like your database or your donor relationships, it’s critical to a successful fundraising program. Your brand isn’t about colors, type, or taglines. Do you remember the outrage that United Airlines created years ago […]
6 Branding Strategies to Make Your Nonprofit Stand Out
The human brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than it processes text. Therefore, when your audience navigates to your website, the first thing they’ll absorb is your visual identity and brand. When they encounter your brand on other marketing materials, they should immediately associate it with your mission. Your brand is more than just […]
Witness to Brandicide
Witness to brandicide It’s not as if we weren’t warned. Really smart people have written about the killing power of a new “brand”. (See Jeff Brooks at Future Fundraising Now or Tom Ahern’s site: Ahern Communications, Ink). If you’ve seen it up close, you know what I’m talking about. It’s infuriating. The process works something like […]