Don’t Let Your Nonprofit Communications Look Like You Have a Shoestring Budget

Are you letting your shoestring budget show?

I was sitting in a meeting recently with a committee of volunteers for a local nonprofit. The materials for the project we were working on just didn’t cut it. They didn’t have the polish you would expect from someone trying to raise money.

Now, I know that a brochure or a poster is never going to be the only reason someone gives money to a cause, but it will speak volumes about your professionalism. Everyone who works in the industry knows resources can be hard to come by – money and good people – but your organization is never going to get to the next level with an attitude of “good enough.”

Take the time to find someone who can create great pieces for your cause within your budget. Whether that’s sending your administrative assistant  to a Microsoft Office class to sharpen skills or working with a designer looking build a portfolio, finding a way to make your cause stand out from the crowd of shoestsring flyers is a must.

The same goes for your press releases, social media pieces, letters and e-mails. If it doesn’t look polished (words and design), you aren’t putting your best foot forward. It’s the same as going to a first job interview. If you don’t look the part (sharp, pressed professional attire), you probably won’t get the job. The same goes for meetings with big donors.

It’s time to grow up and put on our adult clothes. Take the time to get your “look” together.

Photo Credit: Zsuzsanna Kilián http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1108413