Economic challenges, new technology, and diverse audiences are creating new opportunities for nonprofits, especially with their communications. This presentation explores five trends shaping how your nonprofit can tell its story, engage key audiences, and build support for its mission. Originally presented by Emily Stoddard Furrow and Gretchen DeVault, partners of DVQ Studio, at the 2010 Michigan Nonprofit Association SuperConference.

1. Five trends that will redefine non-profit communications Michigan Nonprofit Association SuperConference May 18, 2010

3. What has driven the trends that are changing everything? Framing the trends

6. These two factors have led to new thinking about relationship building, communications, and fundraising. Framing the trends

7. And that new thinking is not going away. These are not short-term fads. They reflect a paradigm shift. Because of the social, cultural, and economic shifts, the technology could disappear ... but the attitudes, behaviors, and expectations those tools reflect would still exist. Framing the trends

8. Audiences of all ages and backgrounds are increasingly savvy. Trends

14. Organizations are more than a talking logo Trends

19. Technology is an engine for organizations, not just a tool for their communications. “ I need a website” is becoming “I need a hub for my communications, fundraising, and volunteer management” Trends

22. Ways to snap out of it • Engage and empower everyone as part of the process of assessing and investing in technology. • Create a technology inventory and identify opportunities for connection. • Invest wisely, but invest. Trends

23. Traditional communications and fundraising approaches are not dying — they are getting smarter. Trends

25. Ways to snap out of it • Ditch the template! Yes, this will require accepting risk. • Put your audience first, your approach second. Ask them what they want! • Give everything a value—and then measure it. Sometimes there is a great value beyond hard dollars raised. Trends

26. As we approach information overload, the tools and culture of communications are shifting from gathering to synthesis. Trends

29. Ways to snap out of it • Build stories instead of simply sharing facts, data, and content. • Aim to be an expert, not an exhaustive resource. Trends

30. THANK YOU This presentation was created by DVQ Studio. www.dvqstudio.com Copyright 2010 Trends