The document discusses branding for non-profit organizations, emphasizing that a brand is the perception and promises that an organization conveys, rather than just logos or taglines. It outlines four key branding secrets: recognizing that every organization is branded, finding a unique 'sweet spot,' distilling the brand essence, and living up to the brand consistently across all platforms. The overall goal is to create a competitive advantage that drives volunteerism and engagement among constituents.

1. Branding Secrets for Non-Profits Ron Gossen, APR, PMP [email_address]

2. Is a brand… A logo? A jingle? A tagline? A product? A positioning? None of the above?

3. The answer is… 6. None of the above. Logo, jingle, tagline, products and positioning are “how the brand is represented” NOT the brand.

4. A brand is… … all the promises and perceptions that the organization wants its constituents to feel about the organization and what it does. It’s identifying sustainable competitive advantage, and creating and managing a reputation to enable it.

5. Why brand? Because you need people to do “something.” Volunteer Help manage Contribute Be served - outreach Support – talk about, write about.

6. Persuasive Model COGNITIVE Cognitive – know who you are, knowledge.

7. Persuasive Model COGNITIVE No. Too limited

8. Persuasive Model COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE Affective – Feelings and attitudes.

9. Persuasive Model COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE Better. But still too limited.

10. Persuasive Model COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE CONATIVE Conative – behavior: volunteer, contribute, support.

11. “The 4 Secrets of Branding” 1. “You’re branded.” 2. “Find the sweet spot.” 3. “Make moonshine.” 4. “The ‘anytime, anywhere, anyhow’ imperative.”

12. BRANDING – your competitive advantage! Brand identity – your culture. Brand meaning – drawn from your constituencies and the environment

13. BRANDING SECRET #1: You’re branded. Every organization is branded. Like it or not! The question is not whether “to brand” or “not to brand.” If you don’t manage your brand, your competition or circumstances will manage it for you!

14. Strong Brand Criteria LEGITIMACY. A promise that you can deliver. DISTINCTIVENESS. Cut through the clutter. RELEVANCY. Meaningful to your key audiences – don’t speak to yourself! CONSISTENCY. Live up to your brand, anytime, anywhere and anyhow.

15. Brand essence model Your Strengths Constituents’ Needs Competitions’ Weaknesses

16. BRANDING SECRET #2: Find the “sweet spot.” It’s a strength of your organization. It’s a want or need of your constituencies. It’s something that your competition can’t offer.

17. Brand essence model Your Strengths Constituents Needs Competitions’ Weaknesses SECRET #2

18. SWOT yourself, hard! Strengths & Weaknesses (internal) Opportunities & Threats (external)

19. Discover and uncover Study your “competition.” SWOT them by reviewing secondary sources and interviewing their constituents with focus groups, executive interviews or objective research. Study your constituents with focus groups, executive interviews or objective research.

20. BRANDING SECRET #3: Make moonshine (distill yourself). C – B – V – P – E Define your c haracteristics. Isolate the constituents’ b enefits. Determine your v alues. P ersonify yourself. Distill from this your brand “ e ssence.”

21. Find the “sweet spot.” Your Strengths Constituents Needs Competitions’ Weaknesses Sweet spot

22. Branding Secret #4: The “anytime, anywhere, anyhow” imperative. Live the brand essence. Act on it “anytime, anywhere, anyhow.” Compare all strategic decisions to the brand essence, i.e.,”does this create well-being and productivity and contribute to meaningful lives?” It’s a change-agent. Apply an advertising version (unique selling proposition) to everything.

23. Branding Process Deliverables Identification of sustainable organizational competitive advantage. Targeted constituents, publics and stakeholders WITH individualized message parameters. Strategic, objective-oriented, communications plan: internal communications, donor relations, program outreach, recipient communications, media relations, other stakeholder communications.

24. Branding Process Results Organizational focus, direction and renewed purpose. Board/trustee productivity and unity. Targeted messaging for development. Facilitated volunteer & staff recruitment. Employee satisfaction, longevity, reduced turn-over and reduced training costs. Efficient program delivery. And others…

25. “ Questions to answers. Answers to results.” StratComm Strategic Communications Group [email_address] Ron Gossen, M.B.A., A.P.R.