Driving Participation Podcast: What Is Working in Marketing & Fundraising | Nonprofits | Schools | Associations

Jill Knaggs knows the perception about manufacturing typically evokes a sort of dingy image. But she also knows the industry is anything but dingy. She joins this session to talk about a campaign she coordinated as communication and marketing manager for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Manitoba to change perception and show people what the industry is — and how they already interact with it, from food processors to aerospace. She explains how the organization incorporated hijack marketing around Canada's 150th birthday celebration and employing external influencers to reach a new and potential audience who can become advocates for your cause.

As Jen Martindale will say, having a brand strategy in place just the starting line—not the finish line. She helped the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts undergo a total rebranding, which doesn't mean a new logo. As Chief of Marketing, she helped the organization reach a new audience in a way that worked for them and created an image and strategy that communicates who the YBCA is. She talks to Beth about the role arts and culture play in enacting change, why you should never try to replicate what another organization does, how to create trust when you're taking a big risk, and more.

Will Dennis wants people in leadership positions to come from a place of 'yes.' With a background in theater and improvisation, Will, manager of the Prep Fund at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, knows the notion of "yes" and taking a risk on an idea is paramount—and often pays off. He believes in the value of conversation in determining what drives people's participation with an organization and creating a real relationship. For those who want their organization to start taking more risks, he gives listeners who want start making a difference a two-part challenge and shares advice on how change starts from anywhere.

This week, Beth is back with the team from Chemical Heritage Foundation. This time, she talks with Shelley Wilks Geehr, director of the Roy Eddleman Institute, about the roles of social media and digital content for the museum. Shelley explores the various media assets of the organization, from its quarterly print (yes, print!) magazine to a podcast to weekly Twitter takeovers. She also explains the role of Wikipedia in their organization and how it has helped attract attention to the museum. They talk about the museum decides what content they create, the benefits of social media, and more.

When you start a new project—like a new exhibit at a museum—you might look at what other organizations are doing, and that can be a good thing. This session is all about collaboration—both internally and externally—as Elisabeth Berry Drago and Rebecca Ortenberg from the Chemical Heritage Foundation join in to talk about how the museum worked with other organizations as it developed its newest exhibit. They discuss how they worked to personalize the exhibit for museum-goers and how they looked to other organizations for help in creating that experience.

It's easy to think of branding as something superficial. But at its core, a brand is really just a relationship, as Cynthia Round explains on this week's session. A brand creates an inherently emotional connection that inspires loyalty and ongoing action. Why does your audience connect with your organization? Asking qualitative questions that seek to answer how people identify with a brand helped Cynthia in her work at organizations like United Way Worldwide and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She and Beth explore why brands are more important for nonprofits, why your audience matters and much more.

Amanda Kaiser, qualitative member researcher with Smooth the Path, has done more than 300 interviews with members of associations to understand their worries, challenges, problems and experiences with the association to determine why they do or don't engage. In doing so, she's learned a few lessons and tips that she shares in this week's session. She explains why the new member process is upside down. Early experiences with your association—whether it's the first webinar, the first interaction with a staff person or the first conference they went to—leave a longer lasting impression on new members than you might think.

Are you struggling to reach your audience through email? Spencer Brooks from Brooks Digital joins in this week to talk about how your emails can be of value to your subscribers. He talks about what it takes to get your emails into people's inboxes and how to avoid the spam filter. For those dealing with low click-rates and high unsubscribe rates, he provides tips on how to clean up your list so that you are getting the best results that you can. He and Beth explore combining social media with email, how to reach a large audience effectively and much more.

Anika Rahman has worked with such organizations as Rainforest Alliance, the Ms. Foundation, and the United Nations Population Fund. She joins this session to talk about the different facets of leadership, from how leadership is different for men and women to how leaders should deal with failure. She talks about the true role of a leader when it comes to creating inspiration and—most importantly—trust. She and Beth explore the differences between a vision and a mission, how a leader can build trust, what "leadership" actually means, and much more.

What makes a good leader? Sandy Rees jumps in this week to talk about getting into the mindset of being a good leader—especially if you don't see yourself as one at first. Leaders set the tone of the organization, and Sandy gives tips about how to buy into yourself as a leader. For those starting a new nonprofit, she talks about the importance of finding staff and volunteers who believe in the organization's mission as much as you do and are willing to put in the time and talent to get the organization off the ground.