Hone your messaging
Your core messaging expresses your nonprofit's identity - and shapes how people view it. In just a sentence or two, you can distill your mission, your vision, your programs, your process, and your "why." It's an eloquent version of your value proposition: what you do, how you do it, and who you do it for.
It inspires readers by showing how you make a difference.
Some people get bored reading multiple paragraphs. They'll skim, jump around, or navigate away. But if your core messaging is clear, that's ok! If readers only read a sentence or two, they'll still have a firm grasp of who you are.
Although your 1- to 2-sentence foundation is crucial, messaging can take many other forms. With solidified messaging, you and everyone else involved can create a consistent presence in your community. Whether you have a professional copywriter crafting your website, your executive director developing a brochure, or a volunteer posting on social media, you'll all tell the same story.
Common forms of messaging
Messaging also includes defining your tone of voice - the style and mood of your writing. Your voice creates an impression on your readers and shapes how they feel about you. For example, your style might be cheerful, confident, warm, or intellectual. It should reflect the identity of your organization. If your nonprofit was a person, what would its personality be? How would they talk? How would people view them?
It inspires readers by showing how you make a difference.
Some people get bored reading multiple paragraphs. They'll skim, jump around, or navigate away. But if your core messaging is clear, that's ok! If readers only read a sentence or two, they'll still have a firm grasp of who you are.
Although your 1- to 2-sentence foundation is crucial, messaging can take many other forms. With solidified messaging, you and everyone else involved can create a consistent presence in your community. Whether you have a professional copywriter crafting your website, your executive director developing a brochure, or a volunteer posting on social media, you'll all tell the same story.
Common forms of messaging
- Your core messaging, in a sentence or two
- An elevator speech
- Your mission and vision statements
- Variations of your messaging for different audiences (e.g., donors v. participants)
- Variations of your messaging for different formats (e.g., white papers v. social media).
- The headline of your home page
- Your About Us page
- Program descriptions
- You're not sure how to define your messaging, and you need an outside perspective.
- Your messaging is inconsistent, and you need help solidifying it so everyone's on the same page.
- It's difficult to condense your messaging because your programs are complex.
- I'll get to know your org deeply and help you uncover your central message.
- We'll work together to clarify your message and adapt it to different contexts.
- We'll discuss everything you do, and then develop an angle that authentically captures the heart and scope of your work.
Messaging also includes defining your tone of voice - the style and mood of your writing. Your voice creates an impression on your readers and shapes how they feel about you. For example, your style might be cheerful, confident, warm, or intellectual. It should reflect the identity of your organization. If your nonprofit was a person, what would its personality be? How would they talk? How would people view them?
Here's my core messaging:
I'll help your nonprofit shape its messaging so you can create an authentic, sustainable connection with your participants, donors, and community.