For many not-for-profit businesses, limited resources means that making sure they spend their money wisely to maximise its impact is always the priority. Standing out from the crowd can also be a challenge – there are many good causes out there, so how can you make sure yours gets in front of potential donors and supporters?
Over the years we’ve worked with charities and not-for-profit organisations up and down the country, and further afield, helping them shout about their great work, so they can continue to do what they do best.
From our work with the Anthony Walker Foundation when we created the a Speak Out! Stop Hate. reporting tool and campaign, and supporting male suicide charity James’s Place, to successfully campaigning to ban the use of old tyres through Tyred, and developing the brand and campaign for Water Can, a collective of five international water charities aiming to get clean water to hard-to-reach communities around the world.
Here at Agent, absolutely everything we do is geared toward driving social value. We always want to do everything we can to make good work that truly makes a difference. Often that means delivering campaigns were every penny gets put to work in a meaningful way to deliver the most impact possible.
So, how do we do it? What are our tried and tested marketing tactics for not-for-profits that have had tangible success?
Well, here are four of them… but let’s keep them our little secret, hey?
1. Use Social Media.
Social media is a super effective tool for charities and non-profits to reach their targeted audiences. Not only is it free, but it also provides an avenue for organisations to show their personalities, share their impact and engage with their followers, supporters and donors.
By regularly posting interesting and engaging content, you can build a following of people who are interested in what you do and will be more likely to donate to your cause. Use platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok to share your story and build relationships with potential supporters. Make sure to use hashtags and post regularly to keep your organisation at the forefront of your audience’s mind.
2. Share Stories.
Donors are more likely to give to a charity or non-profit if they know that their money is going to a good cause. A great way to show potential donors the impact of their donation is through testimonials and storytelling. By sharing stories of how your organisation has helped others, you can show potential donors the difference that their donation can make. Testimonials are also useful for building trust and showing potential donors that you’re making a real difference.
3. Cause Marketing.
A great way to connect with potential donors is through cause marketing. This is where a non-profit organisation partners up with a business or company to run a campaign to raise money for a particular cause. For example, a clothing company might produce a special t-shirt design, or a brewery might create a new beer can, with proceeds going to the charity.
Cause marketing is growing increasingly popular as it’s a win-win situation for all involved; the charity receives much-needed funds, the business not only sees an increase in sales but also achieves a positive reputation for demonstrating social responsibility, and the targeted audience feels good for having spent their money on something that’s going to do some good.
4. Events.
Event marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow awareness of your non-profit – and one of the more enjoyable methods! Events help you connect with your community, raise funds, and gather support for your cause. Events can take place in the form of fundraising dinners, galas, fun runs or even networking events and present a great way to get people talking about you.
We know that clear communication and developing a super-impactful brand strategy comes with years of practise. Need an extra pair of hands? We can help with that! Give us a call or drop us a line.