I recently noticed a small change in our client mix. We have always worked with many of the large corporations in our area. Our clients were very traditional in their requests. Mostly looking for community appreciation gifts, employee recognition, and brand awareness.
However, we are now picking up more and more nonprofit organizations. When I first started in the business I didn’t think they had the money to spend. But I learned the error of my ways long ago.
And, it seems that many are looking to spend even more these days to stay top of mind. Many nonprofits are realizing that they need to run themselves as a business and as such, need to get the word out about their organization. You know the old adage, “you’ve got to spend money to make money” really does stand true.
Nonprofit Organizations Need to Stay Top of Mind
In South Florida we have hundreds if not thousands of non-profit organizations. No matter the size, from very large to the very small, they all need help staying top of mind with their top donor prospects (and grant funding corporations).
We have been working for the past year with one Foundation and their key fundraising tactic is events. They do 48 events a year, both large and small. And at each event the attendees get “something”. Depending on the event theme or purpose of the event the gift of thanks changes. In some cases it can be something as elegant as a Cross pen (with their logo emblem on the clip) to something more simplistic like a notebook. They do a couple of golf tournaments each year so, of course, we provide all the golf themed necessities from golf balls to tee bags to umbrellas.
Nonprofits Thank Their Donors
They also host an annual evening Gala with about 800 people in attendance at a very swanky venue. Again, everyone leaves with a memento of the occasion. We’ve done elegant picture frames to leather journals and even an apron (it was an interactive dinner so everyone was helping with cooking the meal). I still use mine!
Of course our assistance isn’t limited to the gifts. Those gifts are typically put in a nice gift bag with tissue, they take pictures in front of a step & repeat banner that we’ve developed and they have other banners, table tents and materials placed throughout the various venues. And don’t forget the awards because most nonprofits recognize their top donors with a recognition award. We’ve created a few custom designed ones for clients that are given out on an annual basis.
Nonprofits Need Table Throws, Banners, and More
For the receptions we’ve produced the branded table throws (think registration), various styles of banners and signs (think leading into the event and throughout the event venue). We, of course, even help with the branded cocktail napkins and cups (the cups are a definite for more casual outdoor events)! And since we are in South Florida many of these events are held outdoors so we recommend having branded water bottles and umbrellas (sometimes rain ponchos too) at the ready.
Help the Nonprofit with Fundraising Ideas
Another nonprofit client we began working with this year commemorates each of their events with a specially designed event T-shirt that the volunteers wear and they also sell to raise additional funds. We recently added the same artwork to other items including cotton tote bags and water bottles to help their fundraising efforts. They sold out of all the items at their last event.
Nonprofits also have needs beyond events. They have board retreats that are typically themed and require materials from lanyards and badge holders to notebooks and pens and bags. Then you have those that also participate in community events for added exposure. Our Chamber of Commerce encourages nonprofits to exhibit prior to the big monthly luncheon (it is discounted for nonprofits). Each month there are 3 or 4 nonprofits with their table top display (another opportunity), literature, and an appropriate branded reminder like a stress reliever (several available, ones look similar enough to the organizations logo for them to really make sense), notepads, pens, and hand sanitizer are all very popular.
Every Nonprofit Has at Least One Lapel Pin
Then you have the item that all nonprofits use, lapel pins. I would venture to guess that we produce thousands and thousands of lapel pins for nonprofits. We’ve designed custom lapel pins for not only the organization but for special event recognition. For one luncheon we provided a lapel pin attached to a bookmark that detailed the mission and vision of the organization. I now see those lapel pins on people all over town!
Some organizations use the lapel pins as a thank you for a donation. For one recent event we were asked to provide flashing buttons that said “thank you for giving”. As people donated to the cause during the evening they were given a flashing button – talk about peer pressure. It really did make you “want” to give so you could be flashing with everyone else!
As you can see, there are many ways to help promote a nonprofit (and increase your own sales) and keep their name top of mind so don’t shy away from a potential client just because they are nonprofit.
Danette Gossett is the founder of Gossett Marketing, co-founder of Promotions Rescource LLC and co-author of the best-selling book “Transform” with Brian Tracy. Danette utilizes her more than 30 years of advertising agency and corporate marketing experience to develop effective promotional campaigns and products for her clients. Visit GossettMktg.com or SalesPromo.org and follow us on twitter @MarketngTidbits.