Marketing Work That Matters
Professional projects for non-profits through the Taproot Foundation.
Professional projects for non-profits through the Taproot Foundation.
So often, whether by too many cocktails or not enough sleep, marketing folk will think to themselves, "Is this my life's work? Selling stuff to someone who doesn't need it?" But often when professionals seek to volunteer, the idea of stuffing envelopes is too boring to contemplate.
Five years ago, I began working with the Taproot Foundation, which assembles ad-hoc teams of marketing specialists to perform high-quality work for deserving non-profit organizations. Each year, I take on at least one project. I learn more about my community and the good hearts in it. And I also get to take on thoughtful projects for thankful clients.
In 2011, I was grateful to have been named Taproot Chicago's Pro-Bono Hero of the Year.
Five years ago, I began working with the Taproot Foundation, which assembles ad-hoc teams of marketing specialists to perform high-quality work for deserving non-profit organizations. Each year, I take on at least one project. I learn more about my community and the good hearts in it. And I also get to take on thoughtful projects for thankful clients.
In 2011, I was grateful to have been named Taproot Chicago's Pro-Bono Hero of the Year.
Association House of Chicago: I took on two projects for this 90+ year-old social-service agency. Our team's first challenge was to draft messaging for the staff which clearly and concisely described AHC's services, features, and benefits. This messaging platform also included an elevator pitch, boilerplate, and various organizational descriptions perfect for grant applications.
Once completed, our team gently suggested to AHC that its supremely outdated logo was actually causing it critical donations and grants. We developed a new logo that evokes its comprehensive mission, while also developing a welcoming tagline.
Once completed, our team gently suggested to AHC that its supremely outdated logo was actually causing it critical donations and grants. We developed a new logo that evokes its comprehensive mission, while also developing a welcoming tagline.
Sarah's Inn: This organization focuses on connection women and families in crisis with immediate services, as well as breaking generational cycles of violence. Like many non-profits, Sarah's Inn is dealing with more need and less governmental and funder support. Our team produced an annual report that clearly demonstrated the impact Sarah's Inn makes on the community and outlines its fiscal health. By demonstrating the organization's worthiness and stability, donors are significantly more likely to repeat and increase donation.
Supporting STEM: Our team was tasked with creating a solid messaging platform for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana's STEM efforts. Helping girls develop a life-long appreciation for science, technology, engineering, and math is critical in many ways, and our all-female team was driven to turn out research-driven reasons why this organization's approach to STEM is effective.
We developed messaging, plus an elevator speech, boilerplate, and organizational descriptions, then led GSGCNWI's board in role-playing exercises to get them all on the same page and excited about STEM.
We developed messaging, plus an elevator speech, boilerplate, and organizational descriptions, then led GSGCNWI's board in role-playing exercises to get them all on the same page and excited about STEM.
