Connect the Dots Leveraging Community Partnerships & Media - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Connect the Dots… Leveraging Community Partnerships & Media Relations

www.laura-bishop.com

Laura Bishop, Managing Principal Laura Bishop, Managing Principal

• 35 years of experience in public relations field
• Launched Laura Bishop Communications in 2011
• Named to the 2014 Top 40 Women in Business by

SNJ Business People

• Former member of PDE Board of Directors
• President of the Rancocas Conservancy

Karen F Karen Forst, De t, Develo lopment/G pment/Grants C ants Consultant nsultant

• 20+ years experience in environmental issues and community

involvement

• Including 10+ years experience in grant writing, grant

administration, fundraising event planning, donor communication and engagement and corporate partnerships

• Former NJDEP employee and former Development Director at PDE

WHO WE ARE WHO WE ARE

 You are lik u are likely on the staf ely on the staff, f, board or a v board or a volunt lunteer with eer with a a nonpr nonprofit seeking t t seeking to:

• Expand y

Expand your ne ur netw twor

• rk
• Raise y

Raise your visibility ur visibility

• Bolst

Bolster suppor r support (financial and other (financial and otherwise) ise)

• Build y

Build your v ur volunt lunteer base eer base

…..But where t …..But where to star start? t? CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS WHA WHAT BRINGS BRINGS YOU HERE? OU HERE?

There is There is strength in number strength in numbers The right par The right partner tnerships can impr ships can improve visibility visibility, public per public perception, staf eption, staff morale, f morale, and e and even lead t en lead to funding! funding!

CONNECTING THE DOTS – WHY?

Connecting with:  Members, donors, supporters, parents, teachers, current and prospective board members, other nonprofits, potential funders, business and industry, regulators, lawmakers, academic institutions

WHA WHAT IS CONNECTING THE DO IS CONNECTING THE DOTS? ?

• Environmental
• Social Services
• Education

Nonprofit Organizations

• School Districts
• Local government
• State government
• Federal

government

Other Organizations that serve the public

Connecting with others is the lifeblood of nonprofits and

• rganizations that serve the public

It means connecting what at fir It means connecting what at first ma t may appear y appear to be be disparat disparate individuals and organ e individuals and organizations zations to creat create oppor

• pportunities and results that

unities and results that benef benefit tw it two, se

• , several or man

ral or many individuals individuals and organizations. and organizations.

CONNECTING THE DOTS = NETWORKING!

 En Envir vironmental nonpr nmental nonprofit t teaming up with aming up with a a …

 Heal Health relat h related nonpr d nonprofit - t - suppor upport f for pr r program

• grams that encourage

that encourage kids t ds to b be activ active, p , promo

• mote o

e outdoor activity tdoor activity, c , combat c mbat childhood ildhood

• besity

esity, c connect k nnect kids t ds to nature nature  Yout uth ser services organ

• rganization -
• suppo

upport f for pr r progra

• grams tha

that giv give under underser erved y d youth the c h the chance t ance to e experience science and nature perience science and nature  Local b cal business w siness with c th commu mmunity vo nity volunt lunteerism g ism goals  Finding local Finding local c cham ampion f pion for y r your ca ur cause t that w will h help c connect yo you t to

• ther a
• ther availabl

ailable resour e resources in their ne ces in their netw twor

• rk

It’s It’s not not about pu about pulling y lling you awa away from from y your m mission. ssion. It’s It’s about f about finding common gr nding common ground t

• und to help

help your organizations ac ur organizations achie hieve their goals e their goals and and work t toward their missi rd their missions more ef

• ns more effecti

ctivel ely.

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?

From his 2005

• m his 2005 Commencement Address at

Commencement Address at Stanf Stanford Univ rd Univer ersity sity

According t ccording to St Steve Jobs: e Jobs:

 Connecting the Dots in Connecting the Dots involv lves not only looking bac es not only looking backwards, rds, but also looking at what’s happening but also looking at what’s happening

to today and

and in the future

in the future!

!  It is critical f It is critical for nonpr r nonprofits t ts to Connect the Dots t nnect the Dots toda day, t to creat create boundless oppor boundless opportunities unities fo for o

• rganizational gro

growth th

and and success

success going f

going forwards. ards.

La Lay the gr y the groundw

• undwork f

for y r your future success! ur future success!

WE RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE, MR. JOBS!

Think of Think of the “Connect the Dot” the “Connect the Dot” puzzles of puzzles of our c

• ur childhood.

ildhood.

The do The dots are numbered and when ts are numbered and when a a line is dra line is drawn betw n between the do een the dots ts sequentiall sequentially, the outline of , the outline of an an obje

• bject, animal or

ct, animal or per person is re

• n is revealed.

aled.

CONNECTING THE DOT PATH TO SUCCESS

For a child t r a child to successfully successfully comple complete the puzzle, the puzzle, the they f first mus t must s study and under udy and understan tand their number their numbers or s or le lett tter ers. s.

 To successfully Connect the Dots f successfully Connect the Dots for y r your organization, ur organization, you t u too must study and under

• o must study and understand y

tand your organization’s: ur organization’s:

CONNECTING THE DOTS - DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Mission and Goals Strengths Challenges

Those y Those you ser u serve – e – member embers and constituents and constituents Your colleagues in the nonpr ur colleagues in the nonprofit and f t and for-pr r-prof

• fit w

it world rld Current and prospectiv Current and prospective suppor e supporter ers in y s in your ur community and be community and beyond nd

CONNECTING THE DOTS ALIGNING PRIORITIES

Ho How do y w do your mission, goals, strengths & ur mission, goals, strengths & challenges relat challenges relate t to:

 Capitalize on Oppor Capitalize on Opportunities t unities to Connect! Connect!  Gather staf Gather staff t f to think about par think about partner nership oppor hip opportunities unities

CONNECTING THE DOTS – UNCOVERING OPPORTUNITIES

Think of: Think of:

• Locally

cally owned

• wned small b

small businesses sinesses

• Public, priv

Public, privat ate and e and char arter schools in y r schools in your areas ur areas

• Colleges and

Colleges and Univ Univer ersi sities ties

• Nonp

nprofits in y rofits in your field field

• Nonpr

Nonprofits fits in other fields – in other fields – Education

Education, Health Health Care, Care, Social Social Ser Servic ices es, Animal Pro Animal Protection ection, Disast , Disaster R Relief lief/Aid Organ /Aid Organization tions, Youth uth Ser Servic ices es

• Business and Industr

Business and Industry – – large arge emplo employer ers in s in the area the area

• Companies with lo

mpanies with local b cal branc anches/of es/offices ices - Banks with

Banks with community community giving programs, giving programs, lo local companies cal companies with with emplo employee ee vo volunt nteer eer p programs

Go be Go beyond y your typical list of ur typical list of par partners and allie and allies! s!

Scientists lik Scientists like measurable and e measurable and quantifiable results quantifiable results

Ho However, This type of This type of success is success is not alwa

not always easily easily measured measured!

!

Don’t le Don’t let that discourage y t that discourage you! u! CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS MEASURING SUCCESS MEASURING SUCCESS

CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS

Establishing, re Establishing, revitalizing or c vitalizing or changing an organization’s anging an organization’s reputation/public perception tak reputation/public perception takes time. s time.

 Look f Look for r anecdotal e

anecdotal evidence idence

• f pr
• f progress
• gress and success:

and success:

• Positiv

sitive c comments f mments from p people le

• uts
• utside y

e your ur organ

• rganization
• Increas

Increase in media co in media coverage f rage for r pr progra

• grams and e

and events ents

• Positiv

sitive c change in ange in staf staff/p f/partner ner attitud titudes

• Expa

Expanded par nded partnership p

• ppo
• pportun

unities

• Increas

Increased funding d funding

 Mission - Mission - To preser

• preserve, pr

, protect and ect and enhance enhance the the ecological and ecological and cultural int cultural integrity of the Rancocas Creek grity of the Rancocas Creek and its and its en envir virons. ns.

SUCCESS STORIES SUCCESS STORIES RANCOC RANCOCAS CONSER AS CONSERVANCY ANCY

 Strengths: Strengths:

• Leading land trust

Leading land trust in the wat in the watershed

• Preser

Preserved more than 2,000 acres of land d more than 2,000 acres of land

• Lo

Loved b d by man many for its for its natural beauty natural beauty, recreatio , recreation

• ppor
• pportunities on the creek and

unities on the creek and throughout throughout the wat the watershed hed  Challenges: Challenges:

• All v

All volunt lunteer or eer organization ganization

• Collaboratin

Collaborating with non g with nonpro rofit fits with com with complement lementar ary/com y/compe petin ting missio missions (PP ns (PPA, Rancocas Nature Cent , Rancocas Nature Center) er)

• Connectin

Connecting with school dist with school districts ricts

• Connectin

Connecting with business communit with business community

SUCCESS STORIES SUCCESS STORIES RANCOC RANCOCAS CONSER S CONSERVANCY ANCY

 Must vie Must view e ever ery activity as y activity as an an oppor

• pportunity t

unity to “Connect the “Connect the Dots” - Dots” - bolst

• lster e

er existing relationships & isting relationships & build ne build new w ones.

• nes.
• Ev

Events/F ents/Fundraiser undraisers

• Annual Dinner -

Annual Dinner - folksy

• lksy, fun and

, fun and ref reflects the per ects the personality and spirit

• nality and spirit
• f the
• f the organization
• rganization
• Dedication of

Dedication of ne new w preser preserves

• Hik

Hikes and s and cleanups – cleanups – oppor pportunity f unity for r current and current and pr prospectiv

• spective

e trust trustees, member es, members and media t s and media to experience our preser perience our preserves

• World Series of

rld Series of Birding Birding

CONNECT THE DO CONNECT THE DOTS F FOR THE R THE CONSER CONSERVANCY ANCY

 Ne News releases announcing: ws releases announcing:

 Partner

nershi hips ps and acquis and acquisitions ns  Ne New Board Member w Board Members  Ev Event ents  Op-Eds Op-Eds  Con Contacted as e d as exper perts f s for comm r commen ent f t for media co r media covera rage of iss ge of issues es that af that affect the Rancocas W ct the Rancocas Watershed, land preser hed, land preservati tion, e

• n, etc.

c.  Maintain ac Maintain activ tive F Facebook book, T , Twitt itter and r and W Websit ite  Publ Publicly than thank suppor k supporters – – annual nnual donor donors, meal dona , meal donati tions  Share Compelli Share Compelling Pho ng Photos

• s

 Business & Community: Business & Community:  Member Membership ship in in business/communi siness/community o ty orga ganizations ( nizations (Envir ironmental

• nmental

Committ Committee of ee of CCS CCSNJ) – NJ) – raise visibi aise visibili lity and sour and source of ne ce of new member w members  Sponsor e Sponsor events (A ents (Annu nnual Dinner al Dinner, meal meals f for dedi r dedica cations, hi hikes & & cleanups) cleanups)

CONNECT THE DO CONNECT THE DOTS MEDIA MEDIA, BUSINESS & , BUSINESS & COMMUNIT COMMUNITY

 Annual Dinner & Annual Dinner & Meeting – Meeting – 2016

• Spo

Sponsor: r: New Jer Jersey Am American W Water

• Spe

Speakers:

• Patt

tty Elki y Elkins ns, of , of DVRPC RPC – – Spok Spoke about h e about how the Rancocas C w the Rancocas Conser nservancy ncy fi

fits int into the larger pictur the larger picture of the Dela e of the Delaware re V Valle lley. .

• Jim B

m Bintlif liff, O , Owner ner, L Lena B Blac ackburne B kburne Baseb seball Rub all Rubbing M ing Mud Spok Spoke ab e about the h

• ut the hist

stor

• ry of

y of Lena Blackbu

Lena Blackburne Baseball ne Baseball R Rubbing Mud g Mud Com Comes fr s from a

• m a secr

secret locati location along the

• n along the Rancoc

Rancocas as Use Use by M MLB a and c d college t llege teams s na nation tionwide wide

Presentations Presentations connect connected with the dinner guests and ed with the dinner guests and pro provided a ne ided a new oppor w opportunit unity for the y for the conser conservancy vancy. Creat Created a d a sense of local pride sense of local pride  Guests/sponsor Guests/sponsors/speak s/speakers lea leave f e feeling more connect eeling more connected with ed with RC RC  Board Memb Board Member ers f s feel more connect eel more connected t ed to memb member and er and each each other her

RANCOCAS CONSERVANCY CASE STUDY

 Lik Like all organizations, RC is c all organizations, RC is challenged allenged to le leverage rage the the enthusiasm generat enthusiasm generated at d at our a

• ur annual dinner/mee

nnual dinner/meeting and e ing and events ents

• n
• n our preser
• ur preserves int

s into ongoing in

• ngoing involv

lvement and ement and suppor support.  Connecting the Do Connecting the Dots: W ts: World rld Series Series of Birding

• f Birding and Baseball

and Baseball Mud Mud

• Le

Leverage Jim’s rage Jim’s connec connection wit with MLB t MLB to engage the Phil engage the Philli lies and per es and perhaps aps a a local c local college t llege team. am.

• Le

Leverage tho rage those conn e connections f for prin r print and br and broa

• adca

dcast medi media co coverage as ge as well as via soci ll as via social media. al media.

 Oppor Opportunity unity to pitc pitch a st h a stor

• ry in the Land T

y in the Land Trust ust Alliance’s Alliance’s magazine magazine and websit and website. e.

CONNECTING THE DOTS POST EVENT FOLLOW UP

WINSL WINSLOW T W TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT – WNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT – Preparing our Students f Preparing our Students for r Tomorr morrow….T ….Toda day! y!

 Strengths Strengths

• Dedicat

Dedicated t d teacher achers

• Enthusiastic leader

Enthusiastic leadership – ship – open t n to ne new ideas and w ideas and

• verc
• vercoming c

ming challenges allenges

• Gr

Great program con eat program concepts epts  Challenges allenges

• Distri

District is in a ct is in a socio-econom socio-economical ally a and r d racially d ally diver verse c e community mmunity i in Low Lower C r Camden C amden County unty

• Funding i

nding is ve very l limit mited

• The d

e distr strict h ct has s s struggled ggled w with a th a poor r reputation fo tation for years s

• The r

e reputation i putation is u undeser deserved a ed and d d does esn’t r n’t reflect the d flect the dynamic, inno namic, innovativ tive and and progressive c ssive curriculum; e iculum; engaged an gaged and e enth thusiastic students and dedicat usiastic students and dedicated, d, creative s tive staf aff a and a d administr ministration ation

SUCCESS STORY WINSLOW TWP. - STEM AS A CATALYST

 Must vie Must view e ever ery program and y program and activity as activity as an an oppor

• pportunity t

unity to “Connect the “Connect the Dots” - Dots” - bolst

• lster e

er existing relationships & isting relationships & build build ne new ones. w ones.

• Focus on

cus on most promising programs/activities fir st promising programs/activities first

• Pr

Promo

• mote successes

e successes

• Publicize t

blicize teac ache hers doing g doing great work eat work

• Engage parents

Engage parents

• Engage local and

Engage local and regional par regional partner tners

Build a winning attitude Build a winning attitude – creat reate a positiv e a positive buzz buzz

CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR WINSL R WINSLOW TO W TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL WNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL

 Past tw st two

• year

ars, W s, WTSD has has pr proactiv

• actively w

ely worked ed t to Connect the Do Connect the Dots ts to tell the district’s v ll the district’s very positiv positive and inspiring st and inspiring stor

• ry.

STEM pr STEM program has

• gram has been a

been a major catalyst major catalyst in in helping us t helping us to tell that ll that st stor

• ry.

CONNECT THE DOTS CASE STUDY WINSLOW TOWNSHIP STEM PROGRAM

CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR WINSL R WINSLOW TO W TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL WNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL

St Steps t eps to Success Success

• Took time t
• ok time to under

understand the tand the pr program and

• gram and vision

vision

• Thought about par

Thought about partner nership oppor hip opportunities unities

• Made connections,

Made connections, intr introduced o

• duced other

hers to Winslo Winslow w

• Resul

sulted ed in in guest speak guest speakers, f , field trips, donations eld trips, donations

• Identif

Identified ed and receiv and received ed grants and a grants and awards ards

De Developed loped a ne a new pr w program

• gram with St

with Stoc

• ckt

kton Univ

• n Univer

ersity sity

CONNECTING THE DOTS WINSLOW STEM

 Working on ing on similar pr similar process f

• cess for

r Ocean Ocean City Sc City School District hool District

• Iden

Identifyi fying and speaki and speaking ng t to po potential par partners

• Thinking about

Thinking about donat donations

• ns and grants

and grants

• Le

Leveraging relations raging relationships ips with com with communi nity o ty orga ganizations t nizations to h help o lp offset costs a sts and s save ve t time me

CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS OCEAN CIT OCEAN CITY MARINE MARINE ACADEMY ADEMY

A ROLE MODEL FOR CONNECTING THE DOTS…

Great Great at at building mutually benef building mutually beneficial par cial partner nerships hips Mak Makes the s the most most of

• f relationships

relationships Builds Builds on success

• n success of e
• f events

ents and pr and programs

• grams

CONNECTING THE DOTS MAKE YOUR STORY “STICK”

 Figure out what makes your program/project/organization

• unique. Why would they want to know about it/support it?

 Why would someone care about it? New/innovative idea? Helping to fill a need? Underdog success story?  Can you make a personal connection? Tell a story?

CONNECTING WITH CONNECTING WITH MEDIA - MEDIA - TRADITIONAL & SOCIAL RADITIONAL & SOCIAL

Media R Media Relations lations – Promote innovative project, Identify newsworthy programs and activities for local, regional and national media, positions your

• rganization as a leading expert in your field

Social Media Social Media – Website, Facebook, Twitter and

• ther social media

Word of Mouth – Perhaps the most important and effective

Proactive Responsive Creative Genuine Long-term CONNECTING WITH MEDIA CONNECTING WITH MEDIA EFFECTIVE MEDIA RELA EFFECTIVE MEDIA RELATIONS IS: TIONS IS:

 THROW IT UP AGAINST THE WALL

AND SEE WHAT STICKS  GUARANTEED COVERAGE  GIVING THE MEDIA FREE REIGN

EFFECTIVE MEDIA RELA EFFECTIVE MEDIA RELATIONS TIONS DOES NO DOES NOT MEAN T MEAN

 JOIN PROFESSIONAL AND NETWORKING ORGANIZATIONS

• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
• EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS
• CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

(TOWN/CITY/COUNTY/REGIONAL)

• NONPROFIT ASSOCIATIONS

(DANA, ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS)

• YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUPS
• SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

CONNECTING WITH CONNECTING WITH BUSINESS & FUNDERS BUSINESS & FUNDERS

YOU ARE “SELLING” U ARE “SELLING” YOUR OR UR ORGANIZA GANIZATION TION AND THE AND THE SER SERVICES ICES Y YOU U PR PROVIDE TO Y IDE TO YOUR COMMUNIT UR COMMUNIT Y AND BEY AND BEYOND! OND!

When funding is needed, think be When funding is needed, think beyond the usual nd the usual foundation and go undation and government oppor rnment opportunities! unities!

• Most c

st companies h mpanies have funding a funding available ailable

• Giving i

ing is aligned with their area of wor aligned with their area of work or their

• r their

corporat corporate p e philosoph ilosophy

• A

A little online resear ttle online research go goes a es a long wa long way! y!

• Find those that align w

nd those that align with y th your p ur priorities and n iorities and needs eds

• Identify l

local c contact, i invite t to eve events, t tours, p programs

• build relationships

uild relationships

CONNECTING WITH CONNECTING WITH BUSINESS & FUNDERS BUSINESS & FUNDERS

Compelling Project Idea Aligned with Funding Priorities Ability and Expertise to Successfully Complete Project Project Purpose and Goals Clearly Communicated

KEY TO SUCCESSFUL GRANT WRITING

No way to guarantee funding…. Increase your odds of funding success by having…

CONNECTING THE DO CONNECTING THE DOTS DONA DONATIONS AND V IONS AND VOLUNTEERS NTEERS Successful par Successful partner nership and media att hip and media attention ntion can also attract additional resour can also attract additional resources – ces – volunt lunteer eers, donations of s, donations of time and mat time and materials rials

If y If you don’t ha

• u don’t have t

to pa pay f y for it, r it, that’s more funding t that’s more funding to put t put toward other priorities. rd other priorities. “Connecting the Dots” sa “Connecting the Dots” saves mone s money and time! y and time!

CONNECTING THE DOTS THINGS TO REMEMBER

 Sometimes the most unlik Sometimes the most unlikely oppor ly opportunity will be unity will be the the

• ne that w
• ne that works out!

rks out! (In other w (In other words, it ne rds, it never hur r hurts t s to ask!) ask!)  Think about social mark Think about social marketing ing

• How can par

can partnering with y nering with you benef u benefit them? t them?

• Look f
• ok for the “

r the “Win- in-Win” in”  Find a Find a st stor

• ry that “sticks” –

y that “sticks” – Once y Once you get their att u get their attention y ntion you can share u can share

• ther ideas and programs
• ther ideas and programs

Contact us an Contact us anytime ytime at at: Laura Bish Laura Bishop laura@laura-bishop.com laura@laura-bishop.com 609-405-0 609-405-0129 29 Ka Karen F n Forst karen@laura-bishop.com ren@laura-bishop.com 609-969-1 609-969-1743 43 www www.Laura-Bishop.com .Laura-Bishop.com

QUESTIONS?