Six Podcasts to Help Your Nonprofit or Social Enterprise Thrive

Are you looking for a change of pace in content? Whether you’re more of an auditory learner or just would like to listen instead of read for a bit, I’ve got you covered! I’m certainly a writer at my core, but I’ve also had the pleasure of being a guest on some really great podcasts hosted by some amazing creators and leaders over the years.

These episodes are full of inspiring conversations, expert advice, and are just fun to listen to—if I do say so myself. And now you have them all in one place! Podcasts are great to listen to on walks, long drives, while cranking out some work, or just in any spare time you can find. 

Listen in on six of my favorite conversations below to help your nonprofit or social enterprise thrive.

Tell Your Story With Content Marketing

GoodMakers is a weekly podcast from goodgigs founder Dale Wilkinson. It features  personal growth techniques, career and productivity tips, social enterprises, corporate social responsibility, and freelancing for good. 

In my episode, I talk about why content marketing is critical when building a social impact brand and how it benefits your mission. I also cover what you need to do first before you start creating content, how often you should be developing content, and share ideas on how to distribute and promote your content. 

This is a must-listen if you’re trying to figure out how to leverage your nonprofit or social enterprise’s unique story—because it deserves to be shared!

>>> Listen to the episode here. 

How to Leverage Your Influence to Make a Difference

Business with Purpose with Molly Stillman of StillBeingMolly.com interviews some of the world’s most generous entrepreneurs and inspires listeners to make an impact by supporting businesses with purpose.

I had an incredible conversation with Molly on her podcast about some really heavy-hitting but oh so important topics. We discuss issues like human trafficking, racism, religion, and faith, but we also talk about how the biggest inspirations can come from the little things in life. 

If you often find yourself wondering how to make a difference in the world, where to start, and what to do, this one's for you! 

>>> Tune in to the episode here. 

Improve Your Brand Identity 

Business Radio X is a dedicated group of people who help solopreneurs, professional organizations, and brands build communities around the people who matter the most to them. Atlanta Cares Radio spotlights the city’s best businesses and the people who lead them.

I was joined by two other guests and business leaders for this fantastic conversation. and I talk about how I started Signify and share the tips that helped me in the beginning, gush about my favorite organizations, and give my best advice for how to improve your brand identity and drive your mission to succeed. 

The episode also features Philip Coven, who specializes in in-town Atlanta commercial real estate, and my friend, Kitti Murray, founder of Refuge Coffee Co., a nonprofit that gives refugees opportunity and true refuge through coffee and community service.

>>> Give it a listen here. 

10 Steps to Upgrading Your Website

The Small Nonprofit Podcast by The Good Partnership gives you down-to-earth, practical, and actionable expert guidance on how to run a small nonprofit. And Cindy and her team are not only knowledgeable, but pretty fabulous! (She also has a new book out!)

This episode is a super important one because we talk all about websites: the common mistakes, how to fix them, and what you can do to drive more traffic (and therefore more support for your cause) to your nonprofit or social enterprise. 

Tune in to hear us debunk common website myths and offer practical tips you can implement to build your ideal website.

>>> Hear all about it here. 

Cause Marketing: Making a Big Impact as a Small Business

Start Marketing is a podcast hosted by marketing expert Katlynn Pyatt. Each week, Katlynn and her guests break down a popular marketing strategy and teach you how to put it into action with authentic and accessible advice. 

In my conversation with Katlynn, we talked in depth about how to utilize cause marketing to grow your business. We also discussed how to have a big social impact even as a small business, how to evaluate social marketing opportunities, and how to talk about the causes you support without sounding self-serving. There’s some great content in this one! 

>>> Learn while you listen and download it here. 

Copywriting and Marketing for Cause-Focused Organizations

The Hero Show, hosted by Richard Matthews, takes a peak behind the masks of modern day superheroes and helps tell their stories.

Philanthropy is a good marketing strategy, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg of this episode. We honed in on copywriting and how it’s an integral part of the relationship between entrepreneur and customer. For those of you who struggle with writing, this episode will provide you with some helpful tips. 

We also touch on recognizing and fixing your money issues, streamlining and simplifying workflow, defining your audience, and navigating the big world of cause-focused organizations as a small one. 

>>> This is a podcast you don’t want to miss. Listen to it here.

I loved my time on all of these shows and highly recommend subscribing to any (or all!) of these podcasts. I really enjoyed sharing my story, my best advice, and talking more about the topics I’m passionate about so that more nonprofits and social enterprises can succeed.

I’m confident that if you listen to any (or all) of these episodes you’ll take away something helpful for your nonprofit or social enterprise. Now, go tune in and get inspired! 

---

---

PIN THIS POST FOR LATER:

---

I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

5 Lessons from 5 years As a Solopreneur

I can’t believe it, but this little experiment called Signify turns five years old this month!

This business was born out of a desire to help nonprofits and social enterprises have a bigger impact. After years of volunteering and freelancing for organizations and causes I believed in, I saw how many of them struggled with their marketing and communications. They had so much potential, but either didn’t have the know-how or the manpower to move their mission forward through marketing. I knew that’s where I could help.

And over the past five years, it’s been an absolute privilege to assist social impact organizations in increasing their sales and donations, building larger audiences, and doing more good.

But it hasn’t always been an easy and it hasn’t come without its costs. Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart, and I certainly have more gray hair than I did five years ago!

Recent studies I’ve read say that only 50% of businesses make it this far, and there are days when I clearly understood why. I’d be lying if I didn’t ask myself more than once if this was all worth it. Being the one who makes all the decisions—and all the mistakes—can be exhausting, and there are times when I would’ve just preferred to show up to someone else’s office and collect a paycheck.

However, my mission and my “why” continue to inspire me every day to show up for my clients. I still deeply believe in what I do and the reason I do it, and am grateful to be a part of their story and the difference they make for others. For that reason, I’m here not only today, but hopefully for years to come.

And though there are a heck of a lot of pearls of wisdom I could share (and pitfalls I could tell you to avoid), here are just five of the lessons I’ve learned over the past five years.

1) When Your Motivation Wanes, Your “Why” Picks Up the Slack.

I mentioned this earlier, but being an entrepreneur is hard work. You don’t just have an idea, launch a website, and find yourself sipping cocktails on the beach weeks later with loads of cash to spare . . . no matter what you see on Pinterest.

There are lots of days I questioned my decision to start this business. As a solopreneur, I make all the decisions and the buck always stops with me. Some days I wanted to give up and just find a job where I could punch a clock and collect a paycheck. But I didn’t because my “why” kept me going.

Motivation is fleeting, but if you have a clear and powerful reason that you should show up each day, that’s what will actually drive you and make the headaches and heartaches worth it. I know the difference I want to make (and do make) for nonprofits and social enterprises, and that keeps me going because I feel that purpose deeply and want to live it out.

2) Your Brand Message is Everything.

First of all, if this is a new term for you, let’s clarify: Your brand message is what you want people to understand about your mission. And your brand voice is how you communicate your message.

In working on so many different projects for social impact organizations over the years, I kept seeing the issue of brand messaging crop up. Basically, as founders and entrepreneurs, we all reach a point where we can’t see the forest for the trees.

We begin by sharing our vision with friends and family who are willing to listen to our story and dream with us of what could be. But as we grow and bring others into the mission, we have less time to get our message across and we can’t distinguish what is most important and relevant for this new audience.

The result is confusion, stumbling over our words, rambling, or just a lack of clarity for how this new person fits in other than, “Show me the money.”

So, it is utterly essential to define your brand message, making it clear and compelling for the listener. Once you can express this idea in a way that resonates with your audience, you turn customers and donors into evangelists, which allows you to expand your mission.

Psst—need help clarifying your brand message? I’m here for you!

3) Your Organization Will Only Grow If You Do.

Investing in yourself is critical for convincing others to invest in you. People want to partner with those who are headed somewhere, and growing personally and professionally is a big part of that.

To become the industry leader, the subject matter expert, and the person that boards, donors, and customers put their faith in, you need to be focused on learning and becoming even better at what you do.

This could include:

• Finding mentors.

• Taking courses.

• Reading books.

• Listening to podcasts.

• Learning from peers.

• And much more!

Seek out educational opportunities wherever you can.

Additionally, part of your growth should come from observation. To move forward, you must take time to reflect.

Too many leaders are only focused on what’s new and next, and don’t take the time to learn from what’s already happened. And, as the saying goes, those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

This is one big reason I plan quarterly retreats. Not only do I use the time for planning, but I look back to see what’s working and what needs to change. I don’t want to keep making the same mistakes. I consider this another opportunity for growth.

4) Strategy Beats Tactics Every Time.

There’s a reason that marketing is so overwhelming for people: There’s always something new to learn or try. It’s a lot to keep up with! Heck, even those of us who do this professionally can’t know everything.

That’s why you need to prioritize strategy over tactics.

For example, social media is always a big topic of conversation with peers and clients. Which platforms should you be on? What do you post? When do you post? What’s the latest change to the algorithm? It’s like a moving target.

But you know what? I personally don’t prioritize it. It’s not that it’s not important, but it’s just not a big part of Signify’s strategy at this time. Instead, for my business model, I primarily focus on content, search engine optimization (SEO), and word-of-mouth referrals. My time is spent in those areas rather than worrying about Facebook’s most recent changes.

Will that always be the case? Probably not, but right now, that’s my plan . . . and I use that word literally. I put my time and energy into those tactics because they are built into my strategy for growth.

If you don’t have a strategy and plan, you’ll always be stressed by tactics. And when marketing distractions pop up, you’ll have no filter to make decisions. So, start with a strategy and let that determine your tactics.

5) Be Courageous Enough to Make the HARD CHOICES.

I wrote an entire post on this topic in January, but part of being a leader means making the tough decisions.

For me, it meant getting a part-time job—and that was an excruciating decision. There was a lot of fear, worry, and anxiety. And even though the basis came from chronic health issues, I still felt like a failure in many ways.

But once the decision was made, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. And I happen to love the team I get to work with now. Plus, I’m able to serve the social impact community in an entirely new way as well as continue to run Signify. #WinWin

There have been plenty of other decisions over the past five years that haven’t had the outcomes I’d hoped, but that’s the gig, right? There’s always some measure of risk, some unpopular decisions, and some times when things don’t go in our favor. It’s what we signed up for as entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders.

But I’d encourage you to be courageous. Gather the facts, calculate the risks, trust your instincts, and take the leap. You’ll never get it 100% right, but that’s also part of the adventure. And, after five years, I can certainly tell you that it’s still an adventure!

What lessons have you learned in founding or running a nonprofit or social enterprise?

---

---

PIN THIS POST FOR LATER:

---

I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

---

Create a Year-End Social Impact Report to Engage Donors and Customers

Can one person really change the world?

I think it depends on what you count.

Some people are only impressed by massive reputations, millions of dollars, big programs, and culture-changing ideas.

But as nonprofits and social impact companies started to release their year-end reports over the last few months, my favorite ones to read are the creative reports that:

• make tangible the intangible,

• highlight the small numbers that represent a change in heart or thought for a few people,

• share the seedlings of disruption that will shape a family's trajectory forever,

• tell the David versus Goliath stories,

• represent the optimistic beginnings of early-stage organizations,

• sound more relatable to me.

It's the idealist in me, but these reports represent hope and what could be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly in awe of the big nonprofits and social enterprises who make an impact that I could only dream of. But I think we often forget that everyone who tried to do something great had to start somewhere, usually with meager resources.

Even on a small scale, these reports are the testimony of how you've used your resources to do something worthy of your donor or customer’s investment in you—whether that be time, money, influence, or anything else. No matter how big or how little you feel your contributions are (and theirs in you), they deserve to hear the story of what you did together.

If you haven't done so already, I urge you create your own report—and I’ll talk you through it.

Why Do You Need a Year-End Report?

Here are a few reasons why having a year-end report benefits you and your nonprofit or social impact company.

• Help your community understand what you did with their resources, which might encourage them to give more.

• Show them where you're headed in the future, and how they can be a part of it.

• Tell stories of the real lives that were affected by your mission and the shared belief that things can be different (and better!).

• Reiterate their standing as an insider that will always be kept in the loop when you've been trying something new.

• Thank your current large donors, partners, and sponsors.

• Build trust in you, your work, and your vision for a new and improved future.

We are in need of more good news than ever before . . . and you are in a fantastic position to share it!

How to Easily Design Your Year-End Social Impact Report FOR FREE

Here’s what you need to know: Your social impact report doesn’t need to be fancy. It certainly can be, but don’t let that stop you from making it happen.

Canva

Canva is the (free) tool that I use to create pretty much anything visual on this website or my social media. There are thousands of free templates to utilize for pretty much every purpose, and it’s pretty easy to get up to speed. Canva lets anyone be a designer!

People Resources

If you have a limited budget but a pair of extra hands, put them to work! It could be an intern, volunteer, board member, or peer that you can barter with.

Yearly

Yearly is a tool I only recently discovered through a friend, but it looks user-friendly and like it could create a great social impact report.

Webpage

No eye for design or short on time? Simply add a new page to your website and list all the data there. Just try to compliment numbers with stories and information that bring the facts to life.

Marketing Your Social Impact Report

Once you’ve taken the time to create your year-end report, be sure to get the most mileage of it by promoting it everywhere you can.

• Website

• Social media

• Email newsletter

• Conversations with donors and customers

• Partner and sponsorship presentations

• Direct mail

• Speaking engagements and interviews

• And anywhere else at your disposal!

Pssst—You can also promote it more than once! For example, you could even promote it to new donors and customers as they begin to interact with you over the course of a year.

Examples of Year-End Social Impact Reports

After everything we’ve discussed above, would you like to see some impact reports from small nonprofits and social enterprises like you?

Atlanta Dream Center (now Frontline Response)*

This incredible organization has been doing good in Atlanta and beyond for a couple of decades now. So, they have some pretty great numbers to tout. However, one of the things I love about their social impact report is their vision for the future. At the end they show a photo and blueprint for their new headquarters as well as the budget they need for it. This allows their current donors to understand future needs and make the investment.

Gifts for Good

When you don’t have a designer on standby, you can follow Gifts for Good’s example and simply add a new page to your website with all the relevant stories and stats. A few of the creative stats they included were hours of employment, gallons of water save by using recycled materials, and chemo rides for cancer patients.

Refugee Coffee Co.*

My friends at Refuge got super creative in 2020 by telling their story through the lens of a fairy tale. If you have talented artists at your disposal, this is a fantastic way for their skills to intersect with your mission. You’ll see that they included cups of coffee served, hours of training, mentor/volunteer hours, and reiterated that their customers and donors helped them fight injustice.

Love Not Lost

My friend Ashley and her team at LNL had a heck of a year trying to help us all process grief in the midst of 2020. But they showed up in the ways that only they could, and loved on their community at a safe distance. Their report is a terrific example of what happens when you don’t make your goal. They were honest, upfront, and showed their donors and supporters their vision for 2021 with gusto! I know anyone who received this wasn’t disappointed—only proud to be a part of their community.

Kula Project

My friends at Mad+Dusty created this beautiful report, and the design was inspired by the founder’s quote about seeing the light and continuing to follow it. As you can see in this piece, they kept written content to a minimum but used the opportunity to show off the amazing photos of their work in action.

Goshen Homes

Another Mad+Dusty special, this one isn't quite an impact report, but it is still certainly a great model. Even without the beautiful design, you’ll see the testimonials scattered throughout that reinforce the importance of their work. And I love that it also shows you clear steps to getting involved.

Partners International

A huge kudos to Partners International for including a video with their annual report! It’s really the icing on the cake, and sets the stage for their work and impact. And for those who don’t like to write or don’t think you have much to say, note that their report doesn’t actually include a lot of words, but still does an excellent job of communicating what happened through powerful language and a beautiful layout. You’ll also notice that they include the donate button right after the report, which is another great move!

Conscious Capitalism

I love that this report starts off with the title, “A Pivot Toward the Future.” It’s hopeful, shows they are still standing strong after a hard year, and points to their work moving forward. I also like that they counted the attendees for their online gatherings as a stat. Finally, I love that they dedicated several pages to thanking their major partners, event donors, board of directors, and team. You can never thank people enough!

To The Market

This report stood out to me for several reasons. First, I love that they reinforced their work with stats about why their mission matters to the public at large. Second, they showed their growth very simply and in a straightforward way on page 5. (And yay for utilizing interns!) And, third, you’ll notice that their case studies are short and so is their social impact report. This is a terrific example of how you can communicate impact in a compact way.

Bi-Bett Corporation

Full disclosure—I wrote this report! Bi-Bett is a substance use treatment center in California, and they’ve been doing incredible work for over five decades. However, this was their first impact report so they wanted a hefty mix of stories, hard stats, creative stats, and showing their gratitude for everyone who contributes to their success. I loved the way we ended up quantifying some of the more emotional parts of their work such as safe nights spent in their care, observations by staff, days people felt supported, and people who turned their lives around. They have a lot to be proud of!

Signify’s 2020 Social Impact Report

I’m one person, so my stats are meager at best. But, again, that’s not the point and hopefully you’ve seen that by now. I show mine to you not to say, "Hey, look at what I did!" Instead, I show it to you in the hopes that you'll create your own and share it with your community.

I really do believe that one person can change the world—when you know what's important and what to count.

You're the one.
Get out there.
Create your impact.
Share it with the world.

PS: Have your own awesome year-end report to show off? Link to it in the comments!

* Past or present Signify client

---

---

PIN THIS POST FOR LATER:

---

I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

---

29 Sensational Nonprofit and Social Enterprise COVID-19 Success Stories

“Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.’” - Norman Vincent Peale

You don’t have to look far to see the devastating effect that the coronavirus is having on small businesses and nonprofits. It’s very scary out there. But, in the midst of all the bad, there are nonprofits and social enterprises that have found success during COVID-19. They are proof that, no matter your mission, people are still buying and donating.

These scrappy, cause-focused organizations have exercised creativity despite the constraints. They are an example for all of us to follow as we pivot in the short-term in order to be around in the long-term.

At this point, we are about two and a half months into the coronavirus pandemic. Collectively, we are all working through the five stages of grief, and wondering what life is like on the other side. I don’t know about you, but I’ve passed the binge-watching Parks and Rec stage, and am not quite to the acceptance stage yet.

However, we are past the shock, and need to move into action. That’s where you will find a new normal that looks both familiar and relevant enough to work with. It may be painful, and it may be a learning curve, but it is do-able.

The nonprofits and social impact companies below are just a few examples of what your future could look like. Theses mini case studies are meant to serve not as a blueprint, but as a jumping off point. I hope you see yourself in their stories.

You need to read this post if:

• You have stopped marketing because you don’t have a corona virus-related mission.

• You are considering closing your doors because of an uncertain future.

• You want examples of what is working for other nonprofits and social impact organizations like yours.

• You need some inspiration to get your wheels turning.

• You want to read something that reminds you of why you do what you do.

• Like me and John Krasinski, you just want some good news.

Your work matters. Keep going. Here are a few organizations that will show you how.

17 Fantastic Examples of How Nonprofits Have Pivoted During The Coronavirus

Nonprofits have never been known to shy away from a challenge. They were started by helpers, dreamers, and those who only saw big problems as big opportunities. In one way or another, all of our lives are better with nonprofits, and the folks below are just a few reasons why.

Be the Bridge*

Who: Be the Bridge empowers people and culture toward racial healing, equity, and reconciliation.

Problem: Racism is on the rise, and some people are using COVID-19 as an opportunity to show prejudice against others and act in hateful ways.

Solution: BTB Youth hosted a two-day, online training to address racial trauma in the midst of a pandemic, including interviews with BTB community members and webinars from experts in racial trauma. Students also had a dance party with a DJ, processed the information with new friends, and left with activist artwork and a copy of the new BTB Youth Anti-Racism Guide, "Say Something."

Why this works: BTB is always quick to provide solutions and answers for their community. Their Youth initiative is still very new, and clearly, this training wasn’t on their radar until recently. However, they pushed their initial plans aside when they saw a need they could meet for a group that likely wasn’t getting answers elsewhere. And, especially because they were speaking to students, they included elements that added some levity to a very difficult topic.

Your turn: Who are you uniquely positioned to speak to, especially when that group may be off of everyone else’s radar? In times of crisis and stress, how can you bring a smile to someone’s face or sense of humor to the situation, while still acknowledging the seriousness of the problem?

Break Into Business

Who: Break Into Business coaches young people to launch real businesses.

Problem: Their content is typically taught over the course of a semester, and learning takes place in person.

Solution: They turned their semester-long program into one-week, online bootcamps. They kept the business mentors, pitch sessions, and initial seed money grants, but condensed the material into a format for today’s learning needs. Additionally, they can now serve kids all over the country, rather than only here in Atlanta.

Founder, Monica Lage, said, “We sold out of our first event, and the experience truly exceeded our expectations in terms of how much the students learned, how much fun they had, and how close their friendships became. We are now running an expanded set of programs in May and June!”

Why this works: By condensing and moving their curriculum online, they can actually serve more kids in smaller groups. And, let’s face it, if anyone is going to adapt to online learning, it’s going to be kids! They are also providing kids with a different opportunity for learning since kids might not want to crack their math books open, but they’ll be excited to learn how to make money!

Your turn: How can you keep the integrity of your program, while still adapting it for the online space? Can you serve smaller groups of people more frequently, rather than only focusing on large audiences?

Career Up Now

Who: Through innovative networking and education opportunities with industry leaders, Career Up Now empowers emerging professionals to advance their careers while incorporating Jewish values into their lives.

Problem: Career Up Now held a lot of in-person events around the country to educate and connect their community.

Solution: Based upon the results of their COVID-19 survey, founder Bradley Caro Cook launched an interview series called Socially Distanced Close Ups. These are 10-30 minute Zoom interviews to share the featured guest’s wisdom, allow them to conduct a workshop, or even interview other influential leaders.

Why this works: First, they surveyed their audience to find out their needs and wants. They didn’t have to guess. Second, many organizations struggle with having enough time to create their own content and build their audience. This option allows you to do both at once, with less of an effort on your part. The content comes from someone else, and they will undoubtedly share it with their own tribe, which increases your awareness.

Your turn: Have you asked your donors and customers what they need or want right now? Whose knowledge can you leverage as content for your organization? Who already has an audience that you can tap into to further your reach?

Carry 117

Who: The Carry 117 model revolves around going beyond charity to support income alternatives. They help preserve families and prevent more orphans in Korah, Ethiopia, by providing opportunities for women to work and earn a paycheck.

Problem: No mission teams were traveling to Ethiopia to buy products in their store, all US imports were halted, and large orders were cancelled. Social media efforts continue to drive sales for current inventory, but something else needed to be done. Without continued sales, the results could be devastating for the women and families who depend on work to feed and support their families in Korah. 

Solution: Rather than make retail products in the short-term, Carry 117 is now making personal protective equipment (PPE). Sewing machines that recently produced leather goods have shifted to making masks and other devices for the local population. Partnering with a local sponsorship organization, Carry 117 staff have produced hundreds of cotton masks that are being distributed free of cost in the surrounding community. Not only that, they have also designed a hazmat suit and a face shield which can be produced once they get the go ahead from the Ethiopian government. 

Why it works: The flexibility and temporary shift in production is a bridge to survival. The women of Carry 117 are also proud to be part of a team helping their community ward off this fast-spreading, deadly virus, and in doing so, their work continues to bring them dignity and a hope of a bright future.

Your turn: Even if you can’t make PPE, how can you continue to provide your beneficiaries and artisans with meaningful work that continues to bring them dignity?

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

Who: The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose inspires creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

Problem: On March 5th, the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM) had to close its doors due to a staff member’s potential exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, CDM was already facing a more than 25% shortfall of its annual operating budget before the stay-at-home order went into place.

Solution: If visitors couldn’t come to the museum, the museum had to come to them. And Media Cause, their digital marketing and fundraising agency, quickly came up with multiple ideas to help the museum pivot. Within a couple of weeks and despite a wave of layoffs, CDM launched the Virtual Purple Museum. It started with three weekly emails to share content, activities, and tips for both kids and parents. A story time livestream with science and art activities was later added. The response was great, and because the experience was now online, they tweaked their Ad Grants strategy to expand targeting and help families all over the US benefit from these resources.

In addition, Media Cause layered in a fundraising strategy to inspire donations through an email campaign leveraging the museum’s transparency, and help them introduce sponsorship opportunities of the Virtual Purple Museum emails and activities. Finally, they launched a #GivingTuesdayNow campaign that raised $18,000! All of these efforts ensure that CDM will celebrate its 30th anniversary in June!

Why this works: First, CDM and Media Cause tried something, saw that it worked, and then built on that success. They didn’t leave it as is, but tweaked as they went, and kept delivering valuable content to their audience. Second, they are still fundraising! Just because you aren’t healthcare-related doesn’t mean you can’t ask for money. People who support you will continue to support you, even if it needs to look a little different for both of you.

Your turn: Have you made a pivot? If so, how can you build on it? Have you stopped asking for money? If so, how can you continue to convey your value and ask for it respectfully?

The Constellation Coalition

Who: The Constellation Coalition creates opportunities for 1 to 1 sponsorships that empower and invest in women entrepreneurs in the developing world. 

Problem: They launched their organization publicly on March 10th—just days before the world shut down. With people losing their jobs, they feared that they would lose some of their initial sponsors, and that no one else would be interested in joining them.  

Solution: They focused their messaging on the need for poverty alleviation in light of the current crisis. They also reached out to a contact about a sponsorship, but when she couldn’t commit, they gave her the option of becoming a monthly donor. Additionally, another new sponsor has a podcast, and invited the Executive Director on to talk about their work, which helped get their message out to more people—and for free!

Executive Director, Ashley Johnson, put it this way, “I have realized that now it is more important than ever to focus on global poverty as these communities are the most vulnerable to a global pandemic! And thus far, ALL of our sponsors have stuck with us, and we've even gained a new sponsor and a new monthly donor. I know these things seem so minor in the grand scheme of things, but that's kind of our whole schtick! One person connecting with one other person changes the world. Baby steps. Small changes. That's how we start a global movement!”

Why it works: First, they made the correlation between their mission and the current crisis, and communicated that to donors. Second, they kept asking! Your people still want to hear from you, and be sought out by you. Third, they had multiple giving options that worked for them and donors.

Your turn: How can you connect your mission to today’s needs? Do you have multiple options for giving?

GA Gives

Who: Each year, the Georgia Center for Nonprofits (GCN) hosts the state’s nonprofit giving event in partnership with a legion of generous corporate, foundation, civic, creative, and media partners. In 2017, it unified with the global #GivingTuesday movement, and GCN now serves as state organizer for the Georgia campaign. 

Problem: Georgia nonprofits were reeling from COVID-19. Donations were down, fundraisers were cancelled, and nonprofits were struggling to figure out their next steps.

Solution: #GivingTuesday is usually held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, but because that was months away, a second day of giving was added to the calendar: GAgives on #GivingTuesdayNow. They also held their first-ever GAgives Facebook Livestream, a showcase for the resourcefulness and impact of the nonprofit community, featuring art, cooking, comedy, four-legged friends, first-person success stories, and more. It included an application process, and resulted in 10 live participants and 31 pre-recorded segments.

Why this works: The Facebook Livestream added additional excitement to the day, both for the nonprofits who were selected and for their donors. It was also a way to highlight causes for donors who were interested in giving, but may not yet have a charity in mind.

Your turn: How can you add new excitement for your cornerstone events? How can you use your influence to highlight others?

HopeQuest

Who: HopeQuest helps individuals and families impacted by addiction to experience freedom, hope, and life through a clinically-effective and Christ-centered approach.

Problem: Prior to the pandemic, their previous level of care included three, three-hour meetings per week. These were conducted in person because this level of addiction treatment doesn’t typically happen online and there are insurance issues to consider.

Solution: They moved their teaching and curriculum online within one week! Utilizing Zoom, they created this stop-gap measure that serves their clients, is approved by insurance, and allows new people to join safely and easily.

Why this works: CEO Troy Haas told me this isn’t a forever solution, it’s a short-term one. Their programs are still best utilized in person, but this is a measure they are happy with for now. Your nonprofit or social enterprise may be disrupted for now, but trying something new and short-term can help you test long-term solutions. You don’t need to wait until your answer is perfect, just get started.

Your turn: What ideas can you start testing immediately (and easily) to see if they will at least work in the short-term?

House of Shine

Who: House of Shine helps students discover who they are and why their self-awareness matters. Their K-12 curriculum allows a student to see their unique contribution to their corner of the world and make informed decisions based on what they care about and who they are. 

Problem: They either facilitate their curriculum in schools or host workshops. In both cases, face-to-face interaction was essential to their previous model.

Solution: Enter Dr. Shine, their founder and executive director, who challenged her 13-year-old son to a passion project during his time at home because of his love of film and videography. Three days each week, Claudia and her son, Jack, produce “Operation Shine” for their followers and supporters to help them find shine and spread shine during this time at home. They’ve had an overwhelming response to these videos! 

Why this works: Their pivot taps directly into their mission of engaging kids in activities they already love and want to participate in. Additionally, a kid is helping to create the content, which makes it more appealing to his peers. Finally, you’ll notice the videos are pretty short, meaning you don’t have to invest a lot of time into creating them.

Your turn: If you’ve held back from using video, how can you simply get in the game to advance your mission

Love Beyond Walls

Who: Love Beyond Walls provides dignity to the homeless and poor by providing a voice, visibility, shelter, community, grooming, and support services to achieve self-sufficiency.

Problem: The homeless are especially vulnerable at this time because frequent hand washing is a key, preventative method for lowering the chances of contracting the disease, and they do not have immediate access to common methods of sanitation.

Solution: They set up portable hand washing stations around Atlanta. Each is filled with soap and holds 5-10 gallons of water. Founder Terence Lester and volunteers clean and refill the stations daily.

Why this works: Good Morning America covered this story on March 25th, which means Terence acted very quickly! He is well-known in our community for advocating for the homeless, and this is just another example of why donors, supporters, and fans trust him. Additionally, his swift action impressed recording artist, Lacrae, who purchased additional stations. He was also recently featured on the Today Show. Now this #LoveSinksIn campaign has gone national, and stations are being shipped all over the US!

Your turn: How can you dig further into your mission to build credibility with your stakeholders? Is your program, mission, or initiative newsworthy?

The Multi-Agency Alliance for Children

Who: MAAC coordinates people, resources, information, and a network of quality providers to create positive outcomes for Georgia's youth and families affected by foster care.

Problem: While continuing to provide services remotely, MAAC witnessed an increase in support needs related to COVID-19 that were outside of their normal program budgets. Additionally, youth in foster care are a vulnerable group who are disproportionately impacted by these challenges.

Solution: They launched a “Fill the Gap” campaign, and started a new Facebook page to focus on fundraising for individual youth needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. Luci Kade, the Communications and Development Coordinator, told me, “So far, it’s exceeded our expectations, and helped us go beyond our normal capacity for how we serve youth through our programs—while also engaging new donors via social media!”

Why this works: This solution is not only easy to implement, but targeted to specific needs and at affordable levels for all kinds of donors. It also quickly allows them to see their impact, as well as donate to issues and groups that matter most to them.

Your turn: What can you do easily, so that you don’t overwhelm yourself or your team? Have you made impact clear and accessible to donors?

New American Pathways*

Who: New American Pathways provides the more than 5,000 refugees per year who are settled in Georgia with the necessary tools to rebuild their lives and achieve long-term success.

Problem: Even though refugee arrivals have stopped, demand for services has not. This includes one program that prepares refugees for employment. Many refugees have lost their jobs, especially those in warehouse and hospitality jobs. And while some are eligible for stimulus funds, those who arrived after October 1, 2019, are not. This is especially challenging since many of them were looking for their first jobs when the COVID-19 began spreading in the United States.

Solution: Even though hiring is limited right now, they are doing virtual vocational counseling and coaching so that new Americans are able to work on their vocational skills to be ready when companies begin hiring again. They are also recruiting volunteers for virtual tutoring opportunities, so that refugees can practice English and prepare for interviews.

Why this works: They provide many more services than just this one, and with a small team. So, engaging their community in online volunteer efforts helps them not only serve their beneficiaries, but connect refugees to neighbors.

Your turn: How can you mobilize virtual volunteers so that they stay connected to your mission?

Orange / Parent Cue*

Who: Orange is a nonprofit organization providing resources to help churches engage kids, partner with parents, and equip volunteers. Parent Cue is a community designed to let parents know that they are never alone. Both are divisions of The reThink Group.

Problem: Churches that didn’t already have a strong online presence had to not only figure out how to recreate their experience digitally, but also how to keep their community engaged and connected. And parents who wanted a more in-depth Easter celebration than simply watching an online service were stressed trying to figure out how to pull it off.

Solution: Even though their preschool, children’s, and student curriculums are paid products, Orange created a free digital experience guide that includes video presentations, parent service guides, devotional guides, and more. Plus, they update it weekly! This is a huge resource for small churches who are less technologically inclined and have smaller budgets. In fact, it has already been viewed almost half a million times!

For parents who were left without in-person church services, community Easter egg hunts, and quality baskets and chocolate on Amazon, Parent Cue came to the rescue with Easter Jam. This free, at-home experience for the whole family came complete with a video, instructions, and even creative games to play with supplies they already had at home. It gave parents a new way to make memories with their kids.

Why this works: Thousands of churches around the world already use Orange curriculum, so this gave Orange another opportunity to serve their partners (and prospective partners). It also shows their dedication to helping churches succeed.

And Easter Jam met an immediate need for parents, and delivered it in an innovative, professional, and fun format.

Your turn: How can you go above and beyond in serving your audience? Even if it’s done in a much simpler way, how can you make your customers or donors look like the heroes?

Red Door Food Pantry

Who: Red Door Food Pantry provides food assistance to those who need it in Bartow County, Georgia.

Problem: They typically offered traditional food pantry walk-up distribution and a mobile food pantry. They also partnered with local schools, which were then closed. And numerous people in the community lost their jobs, so demand had increased even more.

Solution: They pivoted and launched Dinners To Go, a drive-thru dinner pickup service, in conjunction with other local nonprofits, restaurants, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. These hot (and incredible looking) meals were free, but Eventbrite tickets were encouraged so the team can plan accordingly. In two months, they served more than 50,000 meals!

Why this works: They were able to work with food suppliers and restaurants to repurpose food that might have gone to waste, such as food ordered by schools and restaurants that were closed. They also gave an easy (and visible) option for corporate partners to get involved and volunteer. And they used tech to facilitate the process, easing their own planning.

Your turn: What opportunities do you have for corporate partners to be involved, and make them look good to their audience as well? How can free technology aid your process?

Refuge Coffee Co.*

Who: Refuge Coffee Co. exists to serve the global community in Clarkston through coffee-related job creation, job training, social networking, and commerce.

Problem: Their coffee shops were closed and their catering gigs were cancelled. They still offer pickup and delivery, but Refuge is more than a place, it’s a welcoming community where all kinds of people gather. They also hosted in-person events regularly.

Solution: So many! The creativity of this team is never-ending. They moved their 5K race online, drove their coffee truck to neighborhoods by request, created an online tip jar, created a drive-thru version of their annual artisan market, and even launched a “save your spot” at their second location, which effectively gives you exclusive use of the coffee shop for the day. Their team is the definition of how diverse teams can solve big problems.

Why this work: It’s true that a coffee shop on wheels gives you a bit of an advantage, but they always take everything to a new level. Because they employ refugees and resettled immigrants, their motto is “welcome,” and that informs everything they do. Their donors and customers are generous because they know Refuge will go the extra mile (literally) to delight them.

Your turn: How can you go beyond what your customers or donors expect to really make their jaw drop?

Shakti.ism

Who: Shakti.ism is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers and employs disadvantaged women in India and beyond to make one-of-a-kind, fair trade accessories and gifts from repurposed and recycled saris.

Problem: The world was entering panicking mode and the shop hadn’t opened yet. Additionally, the artisans didn’t have other jobs, a safe place to shelter, or even access to food or basic supplies during India’s five-week lockdown.

Solution: Founder Jitna Bhagani moved up her shop launch date because she wanted to provide the tailors with ongoing income during India's lockdown. To meet short-term needs, she also found a way to source provisions from NGO partners for the women tailors and their community, who are mostly tribal gypsy people. As a result, they ended up feeding 300+ individuals! And now these women are employed and can care for their families.

Why this works: Jitna had been laying the groundwork for months, but saw this difficult challenge as an opportunity to get her message out sooner. She adjusted her timeline to fit the situation. Additionally, due to the extreme, short-term need, she did the tedious and manual work of reaching out to those who could supply these women with the basic necessities they need to survive, and eventually found someone who could help.

Your turn: How can you be more flexible with your plans in order to reach your goals? Who do you need to partner with to get your beneficiaries what they need? What product or service can you launch now to start making an impact?

12 Social Impact Companies That Haven’t Been Stopped By The Pandemic

For-profit social enterprises and social impact companies are already in a highly innovative space, but the pandemic has proven that their ingenuity and creativity can’t be stopped. By living at the intersection of commerce and cause, these organizations are in a unique position to bridge multiple gaps.

Branch

Who: Branch is a new, Atlanta-based startup focused on making information about state and local elections convenient and digestible. 

Problem: The platform was originally centered around 20-minute podcasts only. They thought creating episodes for each office would be an easy way for the information to fit into people’s lives when they’re commuting or getting ready for work in the morning. However, there’s not as much opportunity for this style of multi-tasking anymore,

Solution: They adapted their product to people’s current lifestyle by pivoting to shorter content snippets of eight to 12 minutes, as well as providing "candidate side-by-side" content which allows people to read about candidates without needing to listen.

Head of Production, Walter Ley, said, “More than anything, this demanded being in-tune with how people‘s habits were changing, and being willing to let go of ideas we thought were fundamental.”

Why this works: Sometimes you have to “kill your darlings,” as the saying goes, by removing parts of your work that you once considered vital. In the end, if you aren’t serving your audience in a way that works for them, you don’t have a viable business model.

Your turn: What have you been holding on tightly to that needs to be let go of, at least for now?

Chroma Realty / Move LaMorInda / Co-Work LaMorInda*

Who: Kristina McCann is an East Bay realtor who also runs a free co-working space in her area to give nonprofits, work-from-home moms, and anyone else who needs a place to meet the opportunity to get work done in a professional environment. She is absolutely passionate about making people feel at home in her community.

Problem: Her co-working space is closed, and she had a hard time adjusting to the shelter-in-place order. As a mom, the social media posts about kids missing their birthday parties also hit her hard, and she wanted to help.

Solution: Flamingos. In the cover of night, Kristina ‘mingos the lawns, giving the birthday boy or girl a surprise out their window when they wake up. She’s since expanded to other celebrations like adult birthdays, anniversaries, and thank you’s to healthcare workers and teachers. She sometimes does three to five of these in one night!

She said, “I initially posted on a local community page, thinking I would wake up in the morning regretting a 'dumb' post, and had 42 requests within 12 hours!” By late April, she was already booking into June.

Kristina has also started a #mingosforeducation fundraiser, where people can buy a flamingo, and the funds will be donated to local schools.

Why this works: First, it landed her coverage on the local news. Her creativity has helped her become a household name in her community, which will no doubt benefit her business far into the future. She’s also loved serving families around her and the schools during this difficult time.

Your turn: What out-of-the-box thinking can you execute that will serve your community and spread your message?

Flourish

Who: Flourish is a thriving peer network and social venture development consultancy that provides support, investment, learning opportunities, and specialist research and consultancy to enable women change-makers to flourish.

Problem: While they haven’t lost any clients or work due to COVID-19, they did have multiple in-person events planned for the future.

Solution: With some of the budget they saved in not running physical events, they created a small seed fund to invest in women change-makers around Greater Manchester. They’ve already invested in several and are holding future pitching events to choose others.

Why this works: Wow, talk about investing in their community! I love that they found a greater purpose for their excess funds, and didn’t resort to a scarcity mentality of hanging on to the money for another day. This speaks volumes for them as individuals and their mission, and no doubt their community has taken notice.

Your turn: If your company has not been adversely affected by the coronavirus, how can you use your success to lift others up?

Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta

Who: ISB provides an opportunity for people to learn about Islam and Muslims in an objective and educational manner through dialogue, outreach programs, presentations, and panels.

Problem: People in the Muslim community were stressed and overwhelmed, both professionally and personally, when the shelter-in-place order came down. Additionally, Ramadan was fast-approaching, and they needed to know how this might affect their commemoration.

Solution: Soumaya Khalifa and her team launched morning inspiration videos on their YouTube channel to thoughtfully and intentionally guide their community through the changes, and what it would mean for them. In the last couple of months, they’ve covered professional and personal topics, shown recorded greetings from local spiritual, business, and governmental leaders, and even held a Jewish-Muslim Iftar.

Why this works: Just because we are leaders of nonprofits and companies doesn’t mean we are always able to compartmentalize what’s happening in our lives and in the world. Soumaya and her team address the person as a whole, and remind their audience that clinging to their faith is of vital importance right now.

Your turn: If you are used to only addressing your audience from a professional standpoint, how can you check in with them to make sure they are okay personally?

Mākhers Studio

Who: Mākhers Studio LLC is a creative, civic studio and design-build firm that provides innovative local manufacturing modular solutions to curate equitable urban design strategies.

Problem: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, hospitals have become crowded, clinics are overrun, and COVID-19 testing and antibody facilities are in short supply when compared to demand.

Solution: Mākhers Studio began building MedPods, their modular container clinics and housing units. With key healthcare partners, they can build and rapidly deploy multiple clinics, micro-hospital Pods, and “on-demand” housing.

Why this works: They answered an immediate and important need with an innovative solution that is squarely within their wheelhouse. Though this is a smaller pivot for them, it allows them to come up with a solution that few others are poised to execute. Their brand is cutting-edge, and this new product continues to showcase that fact.

Your turn: How can a small pivot continue to set you apart from your competition? What is one of your organization’s key values, and how can you draw attention to it at this time?

Raw Spoon

Who: Ross Boone is an artist, writer, and illustrator who uses art to give people hope and connect with a greater power. 

Problem: He partnered with a few churches in person as their artist in residence, but it was hard to show his art and tell the stories in the few moments he had in front of the congregation each week. Not to mention, most churches aren’t meeting in person at this time, which left him with limited options.

Solution: A church decided to host nightly Zoom meetings to build community and faith, and reached out to Ross. This was the perfect format to share his "Stations of the Cross" animations. Each night for 13 nights, he presented his art animations to the congregation to help stimulate introspective contemplation and group discussion. He has also since shifted to hosting online workshops and providing digital resources to help churches thrive during quarantine.

Ross said, “I'm not a health professional, but I like to think of myself as someone who tends to the health of souls.”

Why this works: As so many churches were struggling to figure out how to make online services work for them, Ross was in a position to help them bring deeper meaning to their virtual gatherings.

Your turn: Who can you partner with to meet a need and create a win-win?

Single Origin Skincare

Who: Single Origin Skincare reclaims used ground coffee from cafes, treats it, and blends it with premium ingredients to create luxury, organic, and affordable skincare.

Problem: Their mission stems from a concern for sustainability and reducing waste in global communities. COVID-19 has led to worldwide food shortages, and as a result, old models for food delivery, especially those using ethical methods are scarce.

Solution: SOS - Single Origin: Singapore. Working in conjunction with the National University of Singapore, they are building a team of 20-30 participants to assemble, stock, and ship urban farming systems in shipping containers that can be sent to any location that's experiencing food shortages. The first participants are 2020 graduates from the university who are left stranded with zero opportunity for jobs.

SOS Founder, Dean Sprague, notes, “Two birds, one stone. Out-of-work graduates are being employed to help others experiencing food shortages and other fundamental food system issues.”

Why this works: SOS stayed true to their mission, but found a new way to solve today’s problem. Their skincare products are still sold online, but they have (at least temporarily) turned their focus to an immediate need they are capable of addressing. Bonus points for creating jobs and partnering with another organization!

Your turn: How can you pivot what you do to still answer why you exist?

Solutions for the Planet

Who: Solutions for the Planet motivates young people to learn about science, technology, engineering, math, and sustainability issues by partnering with companies that are leading in these fields internationally.

Problem: Their flagship initiative, the Big Ideas program, was an in-person event that required groups of students to be mentored by business leaders in order to create a submission for the Big Ideas Competition. Finalists were then supposed to present in person at a national event in the UK.

Solution: The entire, eight-week event was moved online in four weeks, so that hundreds of students didn’t miss out on the end of the competition to develop and present their Big Ideas. They built a custom platform on their website where students can participate in challenges from home that guide them through the creation of their business plan, while staying in contact with the staff, their teachers, and their mentor. Pitches will be done via video for judges.

Non-Executive Director, Kat Luckock, reflected, “We've had to make some tough decisions, but we've also seen this as an opportunity that may add real value to our program next year and beyond when we get back in to schools, as we'll have a digital platform to add value to the in-person delivery.”

Why this works: So many of you have had to move your events online, and I can only imagine this one is especially challenging because it requires the collaboration of both schools and companies. This is a great example of not only how an event can work online for now, but create even more value for a future in-person gathering.

Your turn: If you’ve moved your products, services, or programs online, how can that enhance your mission both now and later?

Vector Global Logistics*

Who: Vector Global Logistics is a supply chain and logistics company. Their motto is “logistics” with purpose” because every shipment gives back to those in need.

Problem: Everyone and their mother needs Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) right now, especially as all 50 states and numerous countries around the world are slowly opening for business again. But who do you order from when everything takes weeks or months to deliver, and you aren’t even sure which companies are reputable or trying to scam you?

Solution: Vector has done the legwork to partner with reliable companies, so that you get quality products at a fair price. They remove the guesswork. They even created this microsite to focus specifically on this initiative, so that you can quickly find the information you need.

Why this works: On the surface, this isn’t much of a pivot. They are in the supply chain business after all. But this initiative not only gives them an opportunity to become an even bigger leader in their field, but it gives them the chance to spotlight their giving and purpose even more, which is the reason they exist. They’re an anomaly in their industry, and this further distinguishes them.

Your turn: How can you further set yourself apart from others in your industry? How can you authentically communicate your mission in light of our current circumstances, even if it’s not directly coronavirus-related?

Vida

Who: VIDA is a collaboration of designers and makers around the world that brings original, inspiring apparel and accessories to life, creating beauty every step of the way.

Problem: People around the world are trying to get their hands on cloth masks that are safe and effective (and, dare I say, also look nice). And many of us would like to support a good cause at the same time.

Solution: VIDA started making masks that are high quality and even adjustable for both kids and adults. And unlike so many other sites, they laid out their product pages well, gave terrific descriptions and instructions, and also highlighted the social impact.

Why this works: People are desperate for a good mask these days, and VIDA is doing everything they can to not just sell their product, but put people at ease. The product pages are clear and give you all the details you need. They also have multiple blogs on their website that tell you the product status, how to care for your mask, and details on their social impact. I ordered a mask several weeks ago, and have also received several emails with status updates. They go a long way to keep you informed!

Your turn: How can you better highlight the features and benefits of your products and services on your website? How can you proactively keep your customers and donors updated on what’s happening, rather than waiting to be asked?

The World’s Corner

Who: The World’s Corner connects conscious consumers and women artisans around the world to help preserve traditional crafts and help communities thrive.

Problem: The artisans are typically from very poor communities and countries, and have been economically hard-hit by the coronavirus. Additionally, people everywhere have been more cautious about their buying decisions.

Solution: Founder Patricia Chourio wanted to rethink the type of content they were sharing as a company. She decided to reach out to friends and social entrepreneurs who are involved in the slow and sustainable fashion world to create more educational content about these important topics.

Additionally, they are sharing how their artisan partners are dealing with the current situation, and how they’ve shifted their own business models to support their communities. One partner in Guatemala started a fundraiser to donate food baskets to people in her community. The fundraiser has been so successful that she has been able to help more than 100 families from her village and other nearby communities. Another partner in Vietnam started making masks and donating them to her customers and other artisans in her cooperative.

Why this works: Because so many people are concerned about unnecessary spending right now, it’s a terrific time to educate the public on slow and sustainable fashion, and Patricia is in an excellent place to do that. This content also aligns well with her mission. And highlighting stories of reliance in their artisan community is inspiring to their audience, and may lead them to make a purchase or donation in support.

Your turn: How can you adapt your content to address people’s current habits? Are you frequently sharing stories about your beneficiaries and how this crisis is affecting them, both positively and negatively?

WorthyNest

Who: WorthyNest® helps families build wealth in a way that aligns with your values. They walk alongside you, offering conflict-free advice and accountability. 

Problem: Everyone was (and still is) freaking out about their finances, budgets, investment portfolios, 401Ks, and anything else that had a dollar sign attached to it. And owner Deb Meyer wasn’t able to pick up the phone and reach out to every client immediately as the stock market took a sudden nosedive. 

Solution: Their marketing messages centered on being the steady voice when everything else seems to fall apart. Additionally, Deb began sending weekly emails to clients through Mailchimp. It was mid-April before she could reach out individually to clients, so this was a scalable touchpoint. Further, her team became laser-focused on client retention, and as a result, they haven’t lost any clients!

Why this works: One-on-one communication is best, but it’s not always possible. You only have 24 hours in a day, so it’s essential to find ways to stay in touch with your people, especially during times of crisis. And email still has a much higher ROI (return on investment) than social media, so if time is of the essence, go with email. Finally, so many of us get caught in the exhausting cycle of bringing in new clients and donors, and this can often mean neglecting those who have already said yes to you.

Your turn: How can you continue to nurture relationships so that you retain your customers and donors, rather than being stressed by always finding new ones?

Did I miss your story? Please leave it in the comments. I’d love to read it.

Did you see something that would help a friend? Please share this post with them.

* Past or present Signify client

---

---

PIN THIS POST FOR LATER:

---

I’m Kristi Porter, and I help cause-focused organizations understand and execute effective marketing campaigns so they can move from stressed to strategic. Your resources may be limited, but your potential isn’t. Whether you’re a nonprofit, social enterprise, or small business who wants to give back, I’ll show you how to have a bigger impact.

---