There are more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations registered in the U.S., according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics. How does your cause stand out amongst all the rest?
Take, for example, that you are a nonprofit with a mission to help families in need of housing. When you Google housing nonprofits, there are pages upon pages of organizations that help find affordable housing, help repair homes and help build homes for people in need. With so many nonprofit companies out there, it is easy for yours to get pushed aside. However, if you emphasize how yours is different, then you can stand out. Taking a different angle when establishing your brand can help people see your organization as a movement they want to be a part of.
It is essential to establish a brand for your organization so you can stand out and properly promote it. The most important thing that you should consider when branding is what sets your organization apart from others, what makes it stand out. Maybe your cause helps an unusual demographic or has a religious element. Figure out what sets your organization apart from the rest, and use that as a tool when marketing.
Consider the following questions when establishing your brand:
- What does your nonprofit value?
- What do you want your nonprofit to be known for?
- How are you different than other nonprofits with the same objectives?
- Who is your target audience?
- Through which outlets can you reach your target demographic?
Once you brainstorm using these types of questions, you can start to create a marketing plan for how you can get your name out there. Knowing your target audience and what impression you want to make on them, you can start to decide which approaches will be most effective for your nonprofit.