200th Anniversary Logo

We also created the logo for their 200th Anniversary fundraising campaign logo to tie into the organization’s main logo.

Brand Manual

We developed logo files in numerous formats for print and web use. To help the organization know which logos to use in different circumstances, we developed a Brand Manual that shows each of the logo formats and their uses.

Links

• See more logos.
• See full brand case studies.
• Learn about Red Rooster Group’s Brand Development Process.

Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us.

The effectiveness of your nonprofit organization in accomplishing its mission and in raising money depends upon the strength of its brand — what people perceive about your organization. And much of what people perceive, especially donors, is based on how well you are communicating with them. So it pays to know how well you are doing in all areas of your marketing, communications, and fundraising. This 3-hour hands-on workshop will give you the tools for thoroughly evaluating your organization’s brand. We’ll provide a worksheet so that you can evaluate your:

• Organizational Readiness and capacity to produce great marketing.
• Brand Fundamentals including your name, tagline and logo
• Website, email marketing and social media
• Printed Materials including brochures, flyers, newsletters and publications
• Fundraising materials and event promotion
• Technology used for your marketing and fundraising
• Tracking and reporting your results

This workshop will give you sense of your marketing strengths and weaknesses, so that you can learn what you need to improve help and help you prioritize your fundraising efforts to get the maximum return. You are sure to leave with some great insights that you can apply right away.

Presenter

Howard Adam Levy, Principal, Red Rooster Group

Who Should Attend

Executive Directors, Marketing and Communications Staff, Development Directors, Board Members

Upcoming Sessions

2.29.12  Center for Non-Profits, NJ (1.5 hour webinar)

4.17.12  United Way of Westchester, White Plains, NY (3 hour workshop)

4.25.12  Support Center for Nonprofit Management, NYC (3 hour workshop)

5.10.12  Wake Up Your Brand, CT Association of Nonprofits, Waterbury, CT (3 hour workshop)

• Learn more about this session, including a video and handouts from a past session.

LINKS

• Public Speaking Main Page
• List of Speaking Engagements.
• Book Howard to speak.

There are about 4,000 to 6,000 cancer-related organizations in the United States and yet, we haven’t cured cancer. Foodbanks cannot keep up with the increasing demand of more people going without a meal. We have growing rates of autism, Parkinson’s and other diseases, more people falling below the poverty line, and many other monumental problems. Over the past decade or so, the number of nonprofits has doubled to 1.6 million. And yet, we haven’t solved these problems. What’s going on?

No Shortage of New Nonprofits

Every month, our marketing agency is approached by people looking to start a nonprofit organization because they encounter one of these types of problems and want to do something about it. And so they think that starting an organization to bring comedians into the hospitals to lift cancer patients spirits will help, or bringing inner city kids boating for day will help. It will help, but not much.

That’s because they are not addressing the fundamental problems — the causes and cure for cancer, in the first case, lack of regular outdoor activities for certain populations, in the second case.

We have enough organizations applying small and ineffective band aids to larger problems. This has to stop. We need to start thinking seriously about how to solve the large problems.

There are many well-intentioned and knowledgable people in the United States ready, willing and able to make a difference. We need to channel these efforts in a meaningful way that will actually go toward solving problems, stemming the causes of the problems, and creating structures to ensure those problems don’t re-occur.

A Radical Proposal

I have a radical proposal toward that end — limit the lifespan of new nonprofits to a certain time frame – say 10 years. This would focus new organizations on adopting innovative ideas in order to actually solve a problem, rather than in merely providing services.

The organizations would be empowered to employ creative thinking, risk-taking, research and advocacy to accomplish their mission of putting themselves out of business at the end of 10 years. It would free them to attract top talent who relish a high level challenge. It would encourage spending in technology and marketing to galvanize people around the cause, and would inspire donors to contribute as they see annual progress toward a larger goal.

At the end of the ten years, the organization would have to document all their research and work toward solving the problem, share it with the general public (including other nonprofits and NGOs, government, businesses, and social entrepreneurs) so that another party can use that information to address the issue. The nonprofit would be allowed reapply for nonprofit status with a new focus based on their learnings and a new time frame. If they do not have any learnings to share or a new perspective or approach on addressing the problem, their application would be rejected.

Bold Thinking is Needed

The nonprofit sector needs this type of bold thinking to break the cycle of merely providing services while the problems grow larger, to break the poverty mindset that stifles innovation, to break the status quo of founder’s syndrome, and most off all, stem the insane growth of competition of small nonprofits vying for the same pool of resources, none of which is going toward solving the real problems.

What do you think? An idea worth considering, or entirely crazy? Let’s start the discussion.

Howard Adam Levy, is Principal of Red Rooster Group, a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites and marketing campaigns for nonprofits to increase their visibility, fundraising and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Related Articles

• Don’t Start a Nonprofit
• Measuring New Criteria for Nonprofit Effectiveness
• Attributes of a Successful Nonprofit
• How Much is This Dollar Worth?

This e-card was illustrated and animated as a holiday e-greeting for the American Civil Liberties Union with the theme “Whatever the reason you celebrate the season, the promise of America is that you can.” Each of the illustrations use the device of a hand engaged in various holiday activities, both religious and secular. The animation ends with the hand of the Statue of Liberty holding the torch, and a “season’s greetings” sign-off from the organization. The simple, graphic illustrations create visual continuity with other ACLU campaigns, and the two blue colors invoke the organization’s brand while red provides a seasonal touch.

View the original animated gif below (refresh the page to view again):

Links

• See more interactive work.
• See our services.
• Contact Red Rooster Group for help with your marketing

Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

We get a lot of calls from well-intentioned individuals wanting to make a difference in the world. That’s great. We need more caring people making a difference. We don’t necessarily need another nonprofit organization to do so.

Consider this, there are currently over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. To put that into perspective, the population of the United States is 300 million, so that’s more than one charity for every 300 people.

That means that if you have an idea for an organization, it probably already exists. So start by finding out. Do a Google search for your cause and see what shows up. You can also check CharityNavigator.org, which rates nonprofits in different ways, and GuideStar.org, which features information, including tax returns of nonprofits, so you can examine organizations in detail. After all, if other well-established organizations exist with a similar mission, then do you want to be competing against them for funding? And what chance do you really have?

Generally, our recommendation to people looking to start a nonprofit is not to do so, unless

• You have a very clearly defined mission that addresses a very specific problem and is unique, memorable, and inspirational.
• You have a specific, well-thought out means of addressing the problem, ostensibly, one this is unique as well.
• You have a strategic plan that addresses the goals and strategies for the organization.
• You have a method of funding that will sustain the organization for the long-term.

You’re Facing an Uphill Battle

Now consider the requirements to start a nonprofit — you need to have a board of directors, incorporate as a charity, register in every state in which you will be doing fundraising, and meet auditing and reporting requirements.

And then consider what is necessary to run the operation and make it successful — knowledge of the issue and how to address it better than it is currently being addressed, operations management of delivering services effectively and a means of measuring their effectiveness, attracting staff with the right skills, building a board of directors, managing volunteers, managing finances, having the right technology and donor systems in place, developing your brand and promoting the organization, and most of all, fundraising – because if you don’t have money, you don’t have an organization — you just have an idea.

The fact is, that 85% of all nonprofits never make it over $250,000 in annual revenue and have a difficult time sustaining their organizations. And in this recession, even the government is late in paying nonprofits the money they are owed. As a result, many organizations have folded or merged in recent years.

Put Your Passion into Action in Other Ways

If you are looking to do good in the world, that is very admirable and there are a number of things that you can do:

• Start by volunteering for a nonprofit organization to learn what it is like and learn about the specific issues.
• Serve on a board of directors to learn the responsibilities of running a nonprofit.
• Work for a nonprofit to get experience on the inside.
• Participate in mentoring, training, and partnership arrangements.
• You can also donate goods and services, help charities organize fundraising events, and spread the word.
• Also consider how a socially-responsible business or other format (such as galvanize other people around the cause) can address the issue.

Resources

To research nonprofits, visit:

• CharityNavigator
• GuideStar

To find a volunteering opportunity, visit:

• Volunteermatch.org

To find out more about serving on a nonprofit board, visit:

• BoardnetUSA
• BoardserveNYC

Related Articles

• Times Up: A Radical Proposal for Nonprofits
• Measuring New Criteria for Nonprofit Effectiveness
• Attributes of a Successful Nonprofit
• How Much is This Dollar Worth?

Howard Adam Levy, is Principal of Red Rooster Group, a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites and marketing campaigns for nonprofits to increase their visibility, fundraising and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Student Advocacy’s annual Overcoming the Odds Awards Dinner recognizes four students who have overcome tremendous obstacles, including disabilities, abuse and other situations, often multiple hardship. To promote this inspirational fundriasing event, we created a save the date postcard, invitation package, website graphics, as well as the ad journal distributed the night of the event. The design puts a spotlight on the students with die cut holes in the invitation revealing the students’ inner strength.

News anchor Brian Conybeare, MC for the evening, and Student Advocacy Executive Director, Lisa Syron, look on as an OTO award winner accepts his award.

Links

• See full Student Advocacy marketing case study.
• See other fundraising and event marketing.
• Learn about Red Rooster Group’s services.
• Contact Red Rooster Group for marketing and design help.

Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Komen is one of the most well-known and respected charities, and they had a huge role in putting breast cancer on the map. But they don’t always seem to act in the interests of their mission of stemming breast cancer. As an  organization working on behalf of women’s health, their decision to partner with KFC last year was widely criticized as trading one health concern — breast cancer — for another — heart disease. Their decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood seemed motivated by their Komen’s pro-life stance, rather than their support for women’s health.

Komen was providing funding to Planned Parenthood for services around breast exams, not abortions (which constitute only 3% of their services). In fact, in some areas of the country, Planned Parenthood is the only provider of women’s heath services. Planned Parenthood meanwhile, has already received more than $3 million in donations in the past week, more than 3 times the amount they receive from Komen, and is getting publicity that is helping the public understand its services better.

While Komen reversed their decision to rescind funding to Planned Parenthood, the damage to their brand is done and they will have a difficult time recovering, particularly that they have now annoyed both pro-life and pro-choice factions. This scandal is also shedding light on Komen’s partnerships with corporate entities that act against the interests of women’s health, causing the organization to be viewed as opportunistic. And with a movie about to launch that shines the light on Komen’s tactics, the organization has its work cut out for it in rebuilding trust among its donors.

Read the article in The Columbus Dispatch: Komen’s reversal on Planned Parenthood irks some

Howard Adam Levy, is Principal of Red Rooster Group, a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites and marketing campaigns for nonprofits to increase their visibility, fundraising and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

To spread awareness and raise money for the National Parkinson Foundation, we created this rollout brochure to have a dramatic impact. The cover makes a bold statement and subsequent panels unroll to reveal a message about the depth of the problem and an appeal for support. The inside of the brochure describes the resources provided by the organization to help people who have Parkinson’s Disease. The last panel serves as donor form and tear-off envelope to make it easy for people to donate to organization.

Links

• See  more examples of fundraising design.
• See nonprofit promotion case studies.
• Contact Red Rooster Group for help with your marketing.

Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

After recovering from a severe accident, Tim Medvedtz founded that taking on the extreme challenge of climbing a mountain, could help not only him, but other wounded veterans. So he took a veteran who was missing a leg up Mt. Everest. And then one who was missing both legs, up Mt. Elbrus, the highest point in Europe. Now he is committed to taking veterans up to the 7 Summits of the World, and making a documentary of it to inspire the 41,000 wounded veterans in the United States. Our task was to create a presentation to raise $300,000 for the climbs.

We combined strong emotional appeal as well as establishing the credibility of the organization in a visual format. We established various levels for the sponsorship covering the 7 Summit series as well as individual climbs and showed the potential for tremendous media coverage. The presentation is now being used to solicit funds. If you are interested in sponsoring the climbs, contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Links

• See more examples of fundraising design.
• See other Nonprofit Marketing Case Studies.
• Contact Red Rooster Group for help with your marketing and design.

Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Challenge: Raising Money

While the annual report designs for this nonprofit educational advocacy organization have historically taken a more passive role in fundraising, this year, our goal was use the publication to raise money in a more pro-active way, and to do so on a limited budget.

Solution: Focusing on Impact

Using the theme “From Isolation to Empowerment,” the annual report features stories of 4 kids who have overcome obstacles to their learning with the help of Student Advocacy. This year, we focused on the role that the advocates have, and the impact they have achieved for the students. This puts specific emphasis on the tangible actions that advocates take to help kids, helping the organization’s audience understand what it is they do.

Results: An Empowered Staff & Board

We also created donor solicitation cards that matched the look of the annual report, to give staff and board members a tool to reach out to their respective audiences and fundraise on behalf of the organization. They can write personal messages in the cards, which have a donor message in them, using them as a direct follow up to the annual report. And the consistent design helps donors recognize the two pieces as coming from the same organization, boosting the organization’s fundraising impact.

Links

• See more publications.
• See full Student Advocacy Case Study.
• See other Nonprofit Marketing Case Studies.
• Contact Red Rooster Group for help with your marketing and design.

Red Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.