As the head of a nonprofit, you may have wondered why other nonprofits seem to get all the attention while yours doesn’t get a peep.
It’s not that your cause is less worthy. It’s because their team has realized the power of public relations and has put it to good use. And, according to Kathleen Kelly Janus, a leading nonprofit researcher, two-thirds of charities in the United States struggle to bring in donations beyond the $500,000 mark.
If you’re on a tight budget, like most nonprofits, it can be difficult to get past that fundraising mark. You believe you can’t designate enough funds for an effective nonprofit public relations campaign. But if you don’t tell your story, it’s harder to raise more donations. It’s a classic Catch-22.
But there are some things you can do to ensure you get the most bang for your PR buck from your nonprofit budget.
Develop a Strategy
One of the best ways to save money on external communications is to plan ahead. If you know your budget, have a list of goals, and have a target audience in mind, you have the beginnings of a solid PR strategy.
And an effective PR agency can help you polish your plans. A PR team that understands nonprofits can also help you save some money. Because this team has developed communications and PR plans in the past, they’re more adept at creating a plan for you in a timely manner.
The sooner you have a plan in place, the faster you can begin your PR outreach.
Find Your Story
One of the best ways to draw attention to your nonprofit organization is by finding and telling others about it. Your nonprofit is probably filled to the brim with great stories to tell.
PR content writers are usually former reporters or have been trained in communications. They know how to tell your best stories in ways that make your cause more appealing to local and trade reporters. They also know the best way to shape your message so that it can be maximized. This helps bring in more donations in larger amounts.
Train Your Spokespeople
Finally, an effective nonprofit PR agency can help you train your organization’s spokespeople to speak to the media. This helps them better connect with your target audience.
It can be hard to get any interest from the news media or an influential podcaster. Once you do, you certainly don’t want to waste your moment.
A PR partner can train your team on how to draw more interest to your cause by effectively telling your organization’s story. This media training helps your spokespeople get out the right message on camera.
The professionals at Orange Orchard know PR, and we know nonprofits. If you want to get the most out of your marketing budget, do it with public relations. Call us at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online to see how we can help you build more interest in your cause.