Posts Tagged ‘Profit Sector’

An incorrect but sometimes common stereotype of the non-profit sector is a poorly-funded or maybe even ramshackle group of operations. Yes, you’ll still find those traditional “soup kitchens” out there to this day, supported by local churches or an occasional donation drive, but there is a lot more to this sector than that. Charities can be regional or nationwide, which means they need to market and promote themselves like any other big organization does. Bring on the promotional products!

Take a closer look at large charitable organizations like the Red Cross and you’ll see something that represents a well-oiled machine like any for-profit business. Does this mean that they need to approach promotional products the same way any for-profit business would? Sometimes. Context is always important in marketing; one route doesn’t meet the needs for everyone equally, and this applies to a non-profit organization as much as it would for anything else.

Potentially the difference would be the availability of funds to spend on marketing efforts. A business has things like profit (of course) that can be converted into money to spend on the more ethereal things like marketing and branding. Budgets at non-profits can end up very limited, especially because the reputation of a non-profit can be a huge factor in its success. Some non-profits see it as a priority to keep the amount of money they spend towards “administrative costs” as low as possible. Critical to their reputation, even. In the case of a charity, how likely are you to give if they seem to spend half of their donations on themselves?

That said, the similarities to a normal for-profit business do mean following some of the usual guidelines. If a non-profit is going to be at a trade show and intends to give away corporate gifts to drum up some awareness they’re going to want to keep the giveaways small. No one is going to want to carry them around all day if they’ve been given cumbersome promotional products. Avoid the temptation to just toss money into purchasing any little trinket you can find, either. Giving out an easy to carry but completely useless promotional item is just going to be a waste of money. Money that may more difficult to come by in a non-profit environment!

It can be really important to avoid letting budgetary concerns scare a non-profit from being creative. In fact, less room to maneuver might mean letting those creative juices flow and use promotional items that aren’t entirely obvious or common! Charities can attract a younger and creative group of employees or volunteers, so it is important to tap into that resource. Take advantage of the fact that many people don’t look at non-profits as a business, which can mean more freedom. Picking a promotional item that might not be entirely professional could be a bigger benefit to a brand than a hindrance!

If you are in the promotional products industry, it is important to not write off the non-profit sector as a source of potential clients. They’re out there and they need your help! If you are a non-profit, the promotional items out there could be a critical contribution to getting some awareness out there and some contributions rolling in.

Chris Ellis has been around imprinted promotional items for many years now, and has guided countless successful marketing campaigns. This marketing and author is here to guide you through the many pitfalls of promotional products.

Author: Chris Ellis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A business is only as good as its marketing-your non-profit can have the noblest aspirations in the world, but if no one knows about who you are and what you’re trying to do, they won’t be able to help. That is why it is essential that any non-profit develop a well-thought-out marketing strategy. Many people in the non-profit sector shy away from such development, because they think of marketing as something that for-profit organizations use in order to sell products. But effective marketing in any sector is about disseminating information to the right people, and that counts for non-profits the same way it does for anyone else. When you’re a non-profit dependent upon donations and public interest, what other people don’t know about you can hurt you.

That said, the marketing approach in the non-profit sector is slightly different than what you see elsewhere. You aren’t dealing in products so much as information and emotion-you’re trying to sell an idea of how things should be, and your method for getting there. If your marketing is going to be effective, it is pivotal that you establish marketing goals for your non-profit, and write out a formalized long-term strategy for achieving them. Luckily, you can use a lot of conventional marketing campaign tactics to do this.

The biggest favor you can do yourself is take a look at the established non-profits around you before you finalize your campaign. Any successful non-profit has a marketing strategy, and their strategies can tell you a lot about the road ahead. Meet with other non-profits in your area, and find out what worked for them. If they are working in a similar or related field, you might even consider such a meeting as the groundwork for a future relationship between your organizations.

Once you have decided who you are trying to reach out to and what you hope to achieve by reaching them, you can begin to create promotional materials for your campaign. These should emphasize both the overall message and goals of your organization, as well as your specific efforts to get you there. Brochures and marketing pieces might sound old-fashioned, but they are still one of the most effective ways of getting your message out.

To balance these stand-by tactics, your non-profit should always run an up-to-date, attractive website. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; in fact, when you’re on a tight budget, simple and informational is usually better. If you have the resources to devote to it, use your website to promote events and discuss recent successes (a monthly e-newsletter can be a great informational tool), and to create an online forum for discussion of issues concerning your organization. A good website can shoulder a lot of the burden of getting your message out there, if you use your other resources to alert people to its existence.

Do what you can to develop a strong relationship with the local media. You might value modesty as a virtue, but non-profits can’t afford to not blow their own horn-if you don’t do it, no one else will. If your organization achieves one of its goals, announce it on every available forum, always with an emphasis on your next concrete step. If you can, provide your organization’s community with a specific example of how they have helped your organization make a difference; people care about the broader issues, but it will always be easier for them to think about them in terms of individual stories. Give them a story, and you will remind them exactly what it is that you are all working for.

Learn more about issues facing non-profit organizations by visiting AJMaddox Technologies, a Dallas Computer Service Company specializing in Non-Profit resources.

Author: A. J. Maddox
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There’s no question about it: we are seeing the most challenging economic times since the Great Depression. Every day, we read about lost jobs at this company or that, but when was the last time you heard about lost jobs and closing doors at a non-profit organization?

Well, it’s true; it’s actually happening. The non-profit sector is struggling in a big way. The timing could not be worse: we rely on so many non-profits to provide their services – from soup kitchens to health care – and the prospect of scaling back (or closing their doors) is happening when they are more desperately needed than ever in communities, both large and small, all over the country. As a point of reference, we must remember that an organization receives its IRS non-profit status only after proving its charitable benefit to the constituency it serves.

If we review the series of key events over the past months, several specific issues have combined to form that so-called ‘perfect storm’ – we have just completed the most expensive presidential campaign in the history of our country (and, before Obama could deliver his acceptance speech on election night in Chicago, many people were already very seriously concerned about the economy), state budgets have been squeezed, many of the failing private-sector organizations (even Freddie and Fannie) were large contributors to the non-profit sector, and individual donors have seen their savings drop more than any other time in their lifetime.

Let’s face it; the magnitude of the current financial situation – and its effects on the non-profit sector – is huge.

But, the purpose of this article is to provide some positive steps to help proactive non-profits achieve success (survival?) even during difficult times. True, just as in the for-profit sector, not all non-profits will survive. We cannot change that fact in a capitalistic society. However, we can encourage non-profits to exude excellence and compete successfully among their peers for precious funding dollars.

I received an email on March 26, 2009 from a group, whose information I try to follow, known as “IT Solution Journal.” The subject line read as follows: “Compliance Rules: Tools, Policies and Best Practices That Are Cost Effective”

Wow! That’s the subject near and dear to my heart: non-profit compliance in the areas of ethics, governance, and accountability. As I have stated in previous articles, I believe that pro-active compliance is a sure way for a non-profit, charitable organization to signal its commitment to excellence.

So, in part, here is what that email had to say:

“Organizations of all types and sizes, industries and professions have long been mindful of the need for legal and regulatory compliance. In the current economic environment, however, forward-thinking organizations now are shifting their focus somewhat. Mere adherence to laws and regulations is no longer enough. Thanks to tight economic conditions and a fiercely competitive business environment, proactive managers and executives are committed to implementing strategic email and Hosted Service management…”

The good news: My experience has been that non-profit organizations have been extremely resilient over the years. And, my belief is that non-profit organizations are better-suited to address a number of our most pressing problems than either the government-sector or the private-sector organizations.

And, the bad news: I am concerned that most non-profits have not been as diligent as they should with their regulatory compliance. To date, the critical document for a non-profit, charitable organization has been the IRS Form 990, filed annually. It is my opinion that this will begin to change more and more (as I have mentioned in previous articles regarding the focus that Congress has placed on non-profit compliance and the increased scrutiny it has mandated to the IRS.

Foundations are watching their endowments drop, thereby making the case for less grant funding and their boards struggle with eroding investment portfolios. The same is true with individual donors. So, how does a struggling non-profit gain an edge?

I have five suggestions:

1. Don’t panic. Now is the time for calm, cool, collected thinking.

2. Make necessary changes. If there are board members or staff members who are not serving the organization adequately, replace them. Now is the time to rally your best and brightest minds and your most ardent supporters.

3. Review your IRS compliance requirements. Make sure you have your policies in place – and, make sure you are following them. Ethics, governance, and accountability measures will speak volumes.

4. If you are fortunate to have an endowment, use it. Avoid watching the stock market numbers every day. Keep your mind focused on the future.

5. Talk to your donor base, membership base, and continue to seek grant funds. This time, however, do it from a position of excellence. Don’t be reluctant to tout the professionalism of your organization over your peers.

In conclusion, this is a time of tremendous challenge; however, it is also a time of exciting opportunities. It’s time for non-profits to compete like never before (not in petty terms) but in all things that exude excellence, confidence, and strong business acumen.

Rob Glenn is the founder and president of The Center for Ethics, Governance, and Accountability (CEGA). His organization seeks to provide non-profit organizations with compliance policies that will provide a competitive edge for grant writing, donations, and charitable support. More information about CEGA can be found at http://www.centerega.com

Author: Rob Glenn
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Non-profit organizations are known to have major financial constraints. Like any other organization, the printing needs of non-profit organizations are pressing. There are organizations, which provide quality-printing services to many enterprises in the non-profit sector at affordable rates or in some cases even do it free of cost. It may be their way of contributing to non-profits. These non-profit printing organizations should make sure that the non-profits they help are legitimate.

These non-profit printing organizations provide services to schools, colleges, and museums. They also cater to the needs of hospitals, foundations, religious organizations, charities, and many other non-profit organizations. Non-profits normally have unique monetary requirements and non-profit printing organizations try to do everything possible to accommodate the needs of non-profit charities. Non-profit printing organizations help in creating affordable, eye-catching printed material for marketing campaigns, promotions, fundraisers, and many other activities. These printing organizations design and handle completion of all types of printed pieces.

Few of the marketing and promotional items managed by these organizations for non-profit groups and organizations are school bulletins and course manuals. An important feature without which certain events cannot be a success is publicity. This publicity and advertising can be done through distribution of handouts and flyers at various places. The printing of these can be done by non-profit printing organizations. Hence they assist in public event promotions. They also print enrollment material, newsletters, periodicals, and fundraising packets. Non-profit printing organizations provide affordable booklet printing services to several organizations. These booklets may be used for fundraising campaigns, event promotions, and publicizing services. They are commonly used as project briefs, museum guides, and donor communications. Their services include a range of printing processes, packaging for special shipment, warehousing near the non-profit organization’s location, and distribution as per requests. Non-profit printing can save organizations a great deal of money and are known to work with a number of causes. Non-profit printing organizations can be associated with child welfare groups, senior centers, and also work towards rehabilitation of various groups of people with diverse needs.

Non Profits provides detailed information on Non Profits, Nonprofit Software, Nonprofit Jobs, Nonprofit Debt Consolidation and more. Non Profits is affiliated with Nonprofit Jobs.

Author: Ken Marlborough
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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