For nonprofits, building a strong brand is key to success. A brand is essentially a promise to deliver value, and for nonprofits that value is the mission. To build a strong brand, nonprofits must engage their community by sharing their story and promoting a culture of action and passion.
- Share your nonprofit’s story and mission in a cohesive, authentic way. Collect stories of impact from individuals you serve and the journey your organization took to help them. Share these stories across communication channels like social media, email newsletters, blog posts, and in-person events. Help stakeholders understand your beginning, goals, and vision for the future. These stories demonstrate your values in action and build trust in your organization.
- Build a culture where all staff are passionate advocates for your cause. Enthusiasm for the mission should permeate all areas of operation. When staff live and breathe a nonprofit’s values, it shines through to stakeholders and those you serve. People will feel genuinely cared for and compelled to support the organization both financially and otherwise. Culture always trumps strategy, so an authentic culture must come before any fundraising or marketing tactic.
- Finally, promote a call to action in all of your messaging. Highlight ways for people to engage with and contribute to your nonprofit whether through donating, volunteering, or sharing on social media. Make your nonprofit “action central” where people want to participate in meaningful ways. Follow a content calendar to communicate calls-to-action frequently via fresh and high-quality messaging.
By sharing your authentic story, building a mission-driven culture, and promoting action and engagement, nonprofits can build a brand that resonates. Strong brands inspire trust, passion, and lifelong relationships with stakeholders. For nonprofits, this can mean the difference between surviving and thriving. Focusing efforts on community engagement and showcasing your impact in a genuine, compelling way will allow your nonprofit to gain momentum and advance its mission.
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