8 ways to promote your nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play an important role in society. They highlight and help address issues that are not always noticed and can contribute significantly to the development of that specific field.
Naturally, there would be people and institutions who share the same mission and values and would like to partake in these organizations’ activities. But no matter how altruistic the cause is, people won’t be able to participate or support it if they don’t know about it. Thus, even if it’s outside of their comfort zone, NPOs need to promote themselves as well.
Larger NPOs may have in-house teams dedicated to marketing and promotions, but not all NPOs have the resources for such teams, especially smaller ones. Fortunately, there are simple yet effective measures NPOs can use to reach out to potential members and gain support for their cause.
Invest in creative promotional materials
Getting the name of your NPO out there takes work, and to do that, the organization needs to invest in marketing. Whether it’s hiring a designer to create promotional materials or having rubber bracelets made as event giveaways, all of these actions are ways to gain visibility among the NPO’s audience and possibly attract more people towards their cause.
Create a professional website
Putting up a professional website is akin to building a storefront or an office space online. Nowadays, people search for NPOs and other entities online and not only learn more about them and their activities, but also to run background checks on them. After all, people need to learn that your NPO is legitimate and active, so they can also actively support it. Having a well-designed and consistently updated website serves as the first proof of this.
Set up visible milestones
When a goal is presented, people generally wish to strive toward it. This is what you should share with your current and potential members. What does the NPO wish to achieve? Is it to have a certain number of members? A specific amount of donations? Reach a particular number of people online? Keep these milestones visible to encourage anybody who sees it. It will keep motivation up and also promote camaraderie among members.
Release updates consistently
This is the era of data and information-sharing. Every day people are surrounded by new pieces of information, news, and projects, so it can be difficult to stand out. One of the most effective ways to stay on top of people’s minds is to release updates consistently. Your NPO can set up social media pages where you upload ongoing projects, accomplished milestones, and other noteworthy developments. The same goes for your NPOs website as well.
Showcase achievements
People love watching and reading about success stories. Whether it’s about helping a number of people or accomplishing a certain project, stories about overcoming adversities and reaching desired milestones tend to hook people. Thus, after reaching a milestone, make sure to showcase them on the NPO’s social media pages and website. Not only does it help keep people engaged, but it also shows potential partners that your NPO is capable of reaching what it sets out to do.
Put up testimonials
Testimonials are powerful promotional anecdotes. It helps build your NPOs credibility and increases the likelihood of more members becoming interested in the organization. To get testimonials, go to your most active members and simply ask them if they’re willing to share their stories. If they agree, make it easier for them by setting up guide questions or giving them a template that they can use to frame their testimonials.
Form fruitful partnerships
There will inevitably be people and other organizations who share the same sentiments and goals as your NPO. Moreover, they don’t necessarily need to be in the same country as you. Forming partnerships with these entities helps accomplish multiple things, including sharing information, getting new insights, and spreading awareness beyond your NPO’s usual audience. It is an opportunity to reach waters beyond the NPO’s usual limits and help each other grow. Thus, always keep a lookout for potential partnerships.
Show members they are valued
Remember that the success of an NPO–and any other business or institution–highly depends on the people who work and contribute to it. As such, it is crucial to show members and staff that you value them. Upload a thank you post or send out thank you cards after reaching milestones. Host a get-together, a small party, or an annual event to not only celebrate achievements, but also the community around the NPO. Meanwhile, on a day-to-day basis, remembering their names and birthdays are some of the small but effective things you can do to show that they are appreciated.
Bear in mind that these are only some of the things you can do to increase your NPO’s visibility. The road may be long and hard, but it is hard work that exponentially pays off in the end. Whether it’s helping a minority group or bringing attention to certain issues, you and your NPO’s members can feel more motivated and at peace that all their effort is leading to better lives tomorrow.
