“Santa Barbara non profit marketing is essential…”
Santa Barbara has a long history of supporting charitable organizations. With more than 1,000 non-profits headquartered in Santa Barbara County, it is both impressive, and a little daunting, to have so many to choose from, when trying to select just three that exemplify the core tenants of a truly effective charitable organization.
The old saying by Mark Twain; “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising…” rings true to many non profit business owners. Non profit businesses rely heavily on community advertising spread awareness for their cause. When it comes to non profits, there are those that just survive, and those that THRIVE, with the use of smart advertising.
This month Nu Image Ad Group highlights three Santa Barbara non-profits that have effectively used marketing materials to convey their core message, to pursue their missions. Each of these three organizations, through strong leadership, hard work, and adherence to their core principles, has effected real improvement in people’s lives.
The criteria used to select the three most effective local Santa Barbara charities included an analysis of their use of the various types of marketing materials and techniques to convey their core message to supporters while, at the same time, spending the smallest percentage of the money raised on fundraising and administration costs. These materials include: display banners, tradeshow banners, direct mail services, brochures, business cards, and signage. Nu Image Ad Group placed special emphasis on those charities that support local Santa Barbara printing companies, sign companies, and marketing services providers.
Direct Relief International (www.directrelief.org)
Direct Relief International, established in 1948, provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and around the world. In recent years, Direct Relief has spent less than one-half of one percent of annual support on fundraising and less than one percent on administration. That simple math is why Direct Relief’s efficiency and expense ratings are consistently among the best in the U.S. Direct Relief used a wide array of online and traditional methods to connect and stay in touch with donors—both corporate and individual. According to Kerri Murray, Direct Relief’s VP of Marketing and Development, Direct Relief prints newsletters, which are typically published in the Santa Barbara Independent, with additional copies distributed to key donors. They will also print and sometimes publish periodic updates and announcements to maintain front-of-mind with donors. While Murray states that Direct Relief avoids using direct mail services due to cost constraints (they have a massive number of donors), they do use display banners, tradeshow banners, brochures, business cards, and other marketing materials to connect with their donors. Whenever possible, Direct Relief works with local Santa Barbara printing companies and sign companies for their marketing materials. Visit their website and Facebook page
Cancer Center of Santa Barbara (http://www.ccsb.org)
Cancer Center of Santa Barbara is an independent, not-for-profit corporation, providing state-of-the-art cancer treatment. Since 1949, through the charitable giving of families and foundations, the Cancer Center has stayed in the vanguard of comprehensive, non-surgical, outpatient cancer care. By retaining highly trained and devoted medical personnel, acquiring the latest technology and protocols, and integrating patient support and wellness programs, the Cancer Center treats those on the journey to live with, through, and beyond cancer. Charitable gifts allow Cancer Center to provide clinical trials, new technology, complimentary wellness services, and patient support for the under-insured. Cancer Center of Santa Barbara uses marketing materials to connect with donors, including brochures—online and printed, business cards, newsletters, magazines, announcements, and more. Direct mail services can be highly effective, especially for donors that have firsthand experience with cancer, or have suffered with a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer. Those who have been touched by cancer tend to be active supporters of top-quality cancer treatment organizations, such as Cancer Center of Santa Barbara. Active, ongoing, and regular communication with donors is critical to the long-term survival of organizations like Cancer Center, and using a local Santa Barbara printer for marketing materials production can be a cost-effective solution. Through the use of a local printing company and/or sign company, local non-profits like Cancer Center can typically secure attractive discounts on their marketing materials. Visit their website and Facebook Page
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (www.vnhcsb.org)
Visiting Nurses & Hospice Care, established in 1908, provides high quality, comprehensive home health, hospice, and related services necessary to promote the health and well-being of all community residents, including those unable to pay. VNHC clinicians meet competencies in clinical excellence and they ensure that patients are cared for with concern and compassion. They also meet all credentialing requirements and are members of several professional organizations. Their services include Bereavement Support & Counseling, Care Management, Equipment Loans, Hospice Care at Home, Nursing & Rehabilitation, Palliative Care, Payment for Services, Personal Care, Respite Care, and more. They have locations in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, and Lompoc. As a locally-focused non-profit organization, Visiting Nurses must rely on the generosity of local donors. In this highly competitive market, it is critical for marketing materials to effectively convey the core message of the charity to donors. Santa Barbara printing companies that specialize in direct mail services, brochures, business cards, display banners and other marketing materials can play an key role in the longevity of local non-profits. For more information about Visiting Nurses & Hospice Care: Visit their website and Facebook page
Local non-profits face significant challenges each year. With the poor economic environment and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming fiscal cliff—the expiration of the Bush tax cuts on December 31, 2012, and the spending cuts set to go into effect January 1, 2013, charities will continue to struggle to raise the funds they need to pursue their missions. In this context, effective marketing materials have never been more important. By working with local Santa Barbara printing companies and sign companies, local non-profits can design campaigns that target the right donors with the most effective message, to generate sufficient funds to support their ongoing operations and secure their longevity.
About Nu Image Ad Group – Nu Image Ad Group offers a comprehensive suite of targeted marketing materials, including direct mail services, business cards, display banners, brochures, and related printing services. They have more than 2,000 templates and focus on the use of green materials to protect the environment. For more information, Visit their website and Visit their Facebook page
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