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!

You’re Invited To Communications Peer Circle On Social Media

Join me for the next Communications Peer Circle on Thursday, May 6, at the Nonprofit Services Consortium in St. Louis.

Our conversation will be around social media. I’ve had a few discussions on the Boy Scouts of America’s social media guidelines. We also will review some elements of the presentation on these guidelines that was posted earlier this month.

Click Here To Register

Educating Staff On Social Media Guidelines

Nonprofit and charitable organizations can gain more from effectively using social media than for-profit companies.  The passion and commitment of donors, members and volunteers can be effectively harnessed through these new media channels.

During the last year or so, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America developed a presence on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. During the last few months, the BSA published social media guidelines.

A number of staff members of the Greater St. Louis Area Council asked for assistance as they began to work with volunteers in developing Facebook pages. But the biggest challenge for staff members was their online persona.  Many staff members struggled as they decided if they should accept volunteers as friends on Facebook.  Others had scores of friends who were hard-working and engaged volunteers and they used social media to cultivate and motivate these groups.  Many staff members reacted to a post by an employee who commented on their salary increase.

These are just a few social media issues that organizations are dealing with.  In an attempt to educate our staff, I reviewed the BSA’s new social media guidelines and made the following presentation to the Council’s professional staff members on March 31, 2010.  It was recorded so the remaining employees could watch and listen to the presentation and receive the same information as the professional staff members.

How are you helping your organization maximize its effective use of social media? Are marketing and communications professionals going to be the leaders in this new territory?  Or will executive directors and those with legal and human resources responsibilities be expected to provide guidance?

You’re welcome to leave a comment and start a conversation.