Someone emailed with a question.

It’s a great question.

Many nonprofits have marketing that’s easier to navigate – because the cause pulls at our heartstrings.

But what if your cause doesn’t?

What if the mission is critical and the work is meaningful, but there are no heart-wrenching stories or eye-popping statistics to lean on?

If that sounds like you, there are two pillars you can lean on instead:

SHOW RESULTS.

Use visuals, infographics, or before-and-after shots that make the impact tangible. People respond to results, even if the story isn’t dramatic.

BE CREATIVE.

Think outside the box with HOW you communicate your message. Instead of classic emails or a simple brochure, think outside the box. Let the format carry some of the attention-grabbing responsibility for you.

Some ideas of how we’ve done this in the past:

• A mailer that’s a super odd shape – everyone’s wondering, “What’s inside?”
• A brochure formatted as a house – you “open” the “doors” to get inside
• Eyeball-catching headlines in ads and unique subject lines in emails

Delight your donors. Creativity in marketing (especially for an NPO that can’t rely on emotion) makes people stop, look closer, and see what you’re accomplishing.

So if you’re in a situation where the emotion isn’t enough to pull people in, try these ideas instead.

Our agency helps multi-million dollar nonprofits with marketing strategy and copywriting that touches hearts. And gets people giving. See our NPO packages

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