From Online to Organized Groups: Making the most of 2011 as a non-profit

By Lindsay Stout, Account Executive, Dallas


As we wrap up the season of giving and move into 2011, non-profits and charity organizations are still feeling the pinch of the economic downturn from the past few years. With the New Year comes a fresh hope for increased economic recovery, as well as an opportunity to engage new audiences and turn them into volunteers, loyal fans and donors.

Whether you are a large, national-recognized organization or a smaller-scale local non-profit, here are a few tips for making the most of 2011.

Revamp Your Website / Look
A fresh look is a great way to catch the eye of potential supporters. If you have the resources to rebrand your logo or website, take the time to evaluate how this might benefit your organization. Many non-profits operate with an outdated look that no longer accurately represents their organizations.

Our client Camp For All , a Houston-area camp and retreat serving children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs and their families, recently revamped its logo and website. Both designs better convey the mission and motto of the organization, and new functions of the website allow for more meaningful engagement for campers and their parents, Camp For All partners, media and supporters.

Create a Young Professionals (YP) Group
As a YP myself, I’m continually looking for new groups with which I can volunteer and network, and many people tend to become faithful fans of organizations they begin affiliating with at a young age. Now is the time to lock in the loyalty of YPs and create a group targeted toward their interests.

The Junior Friends of the Arboretum at the Dallas Arboretum is a great example of a new membership group designed for the under-40 demographic, including YPs and young parents and families. One of the many perks is that the group has access to special events and extra privileges such as complimentary concert tickets and workshop discounts.

Utilize Social Media
While social media can feel intimidating, it’s an incredible tool for reaching people in a fun, conversational manner in order to promote upcoming events, attract new supporters, grow your donor base, share entertaining videos and photos and drive more traffic to your website.

There are lots of trends you can easily utilize, such as using the #charitytuesday hashtag on Twitter to help promote great causes or creating your own Facebook contests, such as Texas Ballet Theater's Weekly Wednesday Win, which gives fans the opportunity to win tickets to performances and other prizes.

Be sure to tap into your board members, interns or members of your YP group to learn more about Facebook, Twitter, blogs and LinkedIn and to get help with engaging on these platforms. It can seem like a daunting step, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Encourage Volunteering
If your budget prohibits you from taking any of these bigger steps, don’t forget that soliciting help from board members and volunteers is always an option. These audiences are already raving fans of your organizations so let them help you take action! Both board members and volunteers are a great way to help relieve overworked staff, and those who donate their time often turn into those who donate their dollars.

Best wishes and here’s to a fabulous year!