Join Me For 2-Hour Course On Developing Your NPO’s Communications Plan

Many people who find themselves responsible for their nonprofit organization’s communications fall into one of two categories.

One, their organization doesn’t have a viable communications plan and they’ve been delegated that responsibility.

Or, two, their organization has a communications plan and they have no training or experience in communications.

If you fall into one of these categories, or if you would like to learn how to develop an effective communications plan for your nonprofit organization, you’re welcome to join me for a two-hour non-credit course at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Nonprofit Management and Leadership Program.

Developing an Effective Communication Plan for Your Nonprofit Organization
Wednesday, October 20, 3-5 p.m.
J.C. Penney Conference Center
University of Missouri-St. Louis
$30

Click Here To Register Online

Download A Printable Flyer (PDF)

Course Description: Nonprofit organizations are faced with an increasing demand for their services and a more challenging fundraising environment. Perhaps more than ever before, success or failure is determined by how successfully NPOs commuicate their mission and services. Whether you’re an executive director, board or staff member, plan to join us as we help you develop an integrated communication plan and strategy for your organization. We’ll look at ways to measure success and help you define and develop marketing and communication channels.

We’ll look at integrating traditional communications channels as well as social media into a plans for orgainzations of all sizes. We’ll also review some fundamental elements that must be in place for any communications plan to succeed in a nonprofit organization.

My goal is that every person who attends this course will leave with at least one or two strategies–if not an entire plan–that will help their organization achieve a mission-based goal.

See you then!

Conducting Successful Special Events

Photo by Jonathan Deamer

   

Special events are critical for nonprofits. They give organizations an audience and a platform to tell stories. They build communities.     

Dinners, golf tournaments, trivia nights, walks… there are many ways to draw a crowd and to engage or re-engage people with your mission. Join the Community Service Public Relations Council for its next luncheon as we look at how to succeed at special events.     

Our panelists will be Stephen Phelps of Doorways, Inc., and Laura Cohen of Trailnet. Both organizations conduct popular and successful annual events. I participated in a conference call with both panelists and really enjoyed the conversation. This luncheon promises to be another session where both new communicators and experienced nonprofit professionals can learn something new.     

Join us: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
11:30 a.m.  to noon: Registration and Networking
Noon to 1:15 p.m.: Lunch and Program
Meeting Fees: Members: $25; Non-Members: $35; Students: $20
Meeting Location: Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel, 7730 Bonhomme Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Please note: Make reservations no later than noon on Friday, April 9th. Walk-ins may not be able to be accommodated. Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance; no-shows will be billed.    

(Disclosure: Joe Mueller is the current president of the Community Service Public Relations Council.)    

Ideas Shared, Strategies Developed At First NSC Communications Circle

Debby Edelman, Public Relations Director of Riverbend Head Start, Janelle Floerke, Operations Manager of The Clarkson Eyecare Foundation, L. Carol Scott, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network, and Carmen Garcia, Communications Manager at the Nonprofit Services Consortium, (from left) attended NSC's first Communications Peer Circle

   

The first Communications Peer Circle on Thursday, March 3, 2010, at the Nonprofit Service Consortium was great experience.  Participants reviewed how an organization can develop a communications plan in tandem with building a committee of volunteers to execute the plan.        

The most beneficial part of the two-hour session was the exchange of ideas. If one goes into this type of conference or seminar with an attitude that they can come away with something of value for themselves or their organization, they usually will. Plus, you might contribute an idea or solution that will help an individual or organization made a tremendous improvement in fulfilling their mission.    

NSC exists to strengthen the region’s nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit sector. It provides programs services and resources that inform, promote and connect nonprofits as they work to improve people’s lives. (Read more about NSC’s mission, vision and values…)    

A special note of thanks to Carmen Garcia, Communications Manager at NSC, for making the Communications Peer Circle a reality. NSC started with Development Peer Circles to assist those in all areas of fundraising for charities and nonprofits. (Donna McGinnis, MBA, CFRE, leads this group and their next is scheduled for Thursday, April 1.)    

Register for the next Communications Peer Circle. It will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at NSC. We’re kicking around the idea of talking about social media. As soon as we have the topic refined, we’ll publicize it.     

 You’re welcome to leave a comment on future topics or anything else you find on the blog. The slides that guided Thursday’s discussion are below.    

Are You Prepared for An Increase In Volunteers Due To The Unemployment Rate?

Volunteers keep the engines running at many non-profit organizations. But are new volunteers knocking on the door of your non-profit organization? A Reuters story published this week stated that rising unemployment may be sending more people to volunteer at non-profits.

“Some US jobless find hope and solace as volunteers,” documents anecdotal evidence that volunteerism is increasing with the unemployment rate. Here’s some key graphs:

• “Anecdotal evidence indicates that some among the swelling ranks of the unemployed — the U.S. jobless rate hit a 16-year high of 7.6 percent and is expected to climb — are offering their services for free to nonprofits ranging from church-run food pantries to groups that assign mentors to children. But hard numbers are difficult to find.”
• “On a local level, the impetus to volunteer may be more likely to come from someone asking than an urge from within. Half the 62 million Americans who volunteered last year said they did because they were asked to, according to a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
• ” ‘The rise in unemployment is unlikely to generate a surge in volunteerism, since those losing jobs are busy looking for work or going to school to learn new skills,’ said Leslie Lenkowsky, a Philanthropic Studies professor at Indiana University.”

Marketing/communications professionals might be wise to put together a strategy that will reach out to those between jobs. Volunteering can provide networking opportunities for the unemployed as well as lift their spirits when they help others.

And if they can’t volunteer as much or at all after they find employment, your organization probably gained an ambassador and a donor.