Before we dive into the reasons why nonprofit foundations need public relations services, let’s zoom out and take a look at the big picture.
Hopefully, the overall goal of a nonprofit foundation is to enact some sort of change for the betterment of mankind, animals, the environment and/or society.
So, what will enact the most change at the topmost level? Legislation.
To shake up the status quo so much that even our country’s lawmakers decide to make a nationwide change is the holy grail of nonprofit foundations.
But how?
I would argue that it all starts with good nonprofit foundation public relations.
Positive Publicity Becomes Credibility
The more you see a name associated with good deeds and ideas, the more credible that name becomes in your mind. We think, “They must know what they’re talking about if I keep seeing their name everywhere. Maybe I should listen to what they have to say.”
A good example of this is The Nature Conservancy. They moved from obscurity in 1951 to being one of the most well-known and respected foundations today. And it’s because they realized that by leveraging their powerful stories to garner publicity, they would move out of the realm of obscurity and into the realm of credibility.
Credibility Leads to Support
No one wants to support something that isn’t legitimate.
Think about it. If you don’t fully believe in something, are you going to donate your hard-earned money or — even more precious — your time to it? Most likely not.
In order for your foundation to extend its reach beyond just a handful of core supporters, you need to have a credible presence in the field of whatever cause you’re working toward.
And the easiest way to do that is by making your name known through recurring, positive publicity.
All of the Above Foster Positive Legislation
All causes that have ever reached the legislative level have had one thing in common: momentum. They garnered enough public concern to make it all the way to desks of policymakers. And it all starts with one ingredient: good PR.
If your foundation needs PR services, we’d love to help. Contact Orange Orchard online to find out more, or call us at (865) 977-1973.