Can You Describe Your
Organization's Message?
This is one of the most important questions you can ever ask yourself!
If you were to reduce "the message" your non profit organization is trying to relay, market, or share, what would it be? When most founders, CEOs, or executive director's are asked this question, too often, we are coming up empty. I did.
But there is hope. Think about it. What are you all about? What is your organization trying to accomplish? I'm not talking about an endless string of words that somehow seem to portray your mission. What words can you "pare down" to describe your mission? Can you descibe your message in ONE sentence or phrase? When you figure it out, DRIVE IT HOME!
Drive it home "within" your organization. Your staff and board of directors need to be "on the same page" with this! Then, you need to communicate your "message" with your donors systematically and consistently. Why? Because your donors are busy. When they open your mail or come to your fundraising banquet, you need to be "on message!"
Your message should be reflected in your "positioning statement."
They, in a lot of cases, will be one in the same. In the very few seconds that donors will take when opening your mail, they need to have your message DRIVEN home...all the way to their heart! That's where their pocket book can be found! Oh, and one other question: Are you passionate about your organization's message?
