Starving for exposure?

Sales are down. This quarantine has stripped away your means to do business. Just as concerning, your brand is sitting on a shelf. Dormant.

No doubt, yesterday's marketing budget is out the window and dumping dollars into driving sales won't get you anywhere right now.

So, how do you stay relevant?

Well, one strategy to consider is ratcheting-up your community giving. Check out this link from Forbes for a deeper dive into the "do-good renaissance". There is adequate data that suggests community impact benefits the bottom line.

For obvious reasons, local charities can use your support, especially now. But leveraging your favorite do-good organization can benefit your brand and reputation.

Take this opportunity to explore the benefits.

You should pick the nonprofit that works best for you, but below is a great opportunity from Cascade Community Foundation. We certainly would appreciate your help with this community initiative.

Any good nonprofit is continually taking action. When it comes to fundraising they shout from the rooftops. Otherwise, they're promoting events, launching programs and sharing community information.

Armed with volunteers, board members and backing from local business, organizations cast a suffocating marketing net, engaging supporters who adore them and often expanding their reach organically to the entire community.

Nowadays it's "online digital ads" mixed with "behavioral analytics" and "geofencing".

Here's the point.

Most nonprofits are very aware of the value of multi-channel marketing mediums. That's because nonprofits are supported by a wide range of talented and generous individuals and businesses willing to lend their skillsets.

Endless streams of partnerships with access to multiple marketing channels, each serving as springboards for sharing the mission.

Take Cascade Community Foundation's 2020 Decennial Survey for example.

This once-in-a-decade effort requires the kitchen sink of marketing efforts. Press releases, social media, billboards, emails (just like this one), online advertising, print publications... multi-channel marketing.

Plentiful, widespread and (thankfully) inexpensive or free. Attaching your brand to that type of effort brings value.

the best they've got for a chance to be named top chef. Who showed up? Foodies and supporters of the organization. Who sponsored? The amazing and wonderful businesses and families that love the work Cascade Community Foundation brings to Ada, Cascade and Forest Hills.

Here's why this is SO important!

When you're passionate about your community, about YOUR charity, your customers can sense it. They feel it and they respond to it.

It's why "buy local" is so powerful. It's why saying no to a Girl Scout makes you die inside just a little bit.

Consumers love to buy from those who support the community.

Here's the deal. Nonprofits do not mind if your inclination is partially or solely predicated on getting value in return for you sponsorship.

We know this because every nonprofit event in the history of nonprofit events includes perks. Spend more, get more. When charities dangle value, prospective sponsors respond.

Here's why that is so important to you, RIGHT NOW!

If 2020 suddenly looks grim, the charities you support are going to feel that pain as well. You won't even need to ask, because nonprofits are going to offer better returns for your giving no matter what.

But sponsors should always feel comfortable having a conversation about value and ROI.

Rest assured. Charities are willing to go the extra mile for you, because they have already examined their own ROI by doing so.

INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Interns and volunteers are the lifeblood of any organization. At CCF, we will rely on the service and assistance of many in our community to help complete various tasks, such as distributing our 2020 Decennial Survey (virtually).

We also need interns and volunteers to help manage social media, connect us to businesses & donors, staff our events, canvas neighborhoods (in due time... we hope), dial for dollars and more!

Stay home, stay safe, but serve and give back if able.