Your Unique Position: A Focal Point for Enhancing Your Fundraising Communications

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Significant dialog continues in the nonprofit community on how the more than 1.2 million 501 (c) 3 organizations in the United States might compliment and collaborate more. Competition isn't necessarily a positive force for nonprofit work when program overlap exists in a community. 

The case for support of a your department's mission work is strengthened by your unique position. Your immediate response to the 911 calls during times of greatest need for your residents and guests is, by and large, not duplicated. 

What other nonprofit in your community is equipped to provide firefighting services, auto extrication, storm watch, gas leak response, medical first response, and all the other types of calls you face in a given year?

Pull a copy of your department's fundraising and general community communications. How well have you reinforced your unique position to respond to community emergencies? 

The next time you write your direct mail letter, grant application or other fundraising communication, the time invested in explaining your unique position will yield a positive impact for your department. 

To discuss how to start your fundraising communications with a case statement that clearly and concisely quantifies your community impact, contact FlashPoint Fundraising today.

The Grandma Test: A Benchmark for Your Communications

This is our Grandma Holland. She 86, still works part-time over lunch at the school near her home and is the most matter-of-fact communicator I know. Grandpa Holland, her late husband, fretted ten years ago about buying a suit for our wedding. He worried he would pass away before the wedding and not get to wear his "investment." Grandma told him, "Gilbert, we're getting you a new suit. If that happens, then we're covered for the funeral."

Upon reviewing anything I have written, I ask myself if it passes the "Grandma Test." I visualize Grandma Holland when I do. I ask whether each sentence is direct enough. I remove extra words where I can. I look for industry lingo and try to explain it in more common terms.

With so much to accomplish each day, it can be difficult to keep this review process a high priority. However, it is my critical bridge towards greater understanding by my audience.

Communications opportunities abound. You may need to prepare for your department meeting, send a news release about Fire Prevention Week activities, schedule your next training session through your community college, submit a grant report, or develop a presentation for when your city council starts to plan next year's budget.

Do the communications on your plate right now pass the Grandma Test?

For more information on communications services available to your department, contact Dawn Svenson Holland at FlashPoint Fundraising today.