Summer is often a quieter time of year in the nonprofit world since people are traveling and events are usually held in the fall and spring. This more relaxed season is a good opportunity to focus on areas like marketing, fundraising, and volunteer recruiting and management to set your nonprofit up for success for the rest of the year. To start, summer is a great time to refocus and retell your story.
Focus on Your Story
- Share Your Story - Retell your nonprofit's story externally and internally. What is your mission and what drives your team? Make sure your staff, donor base and volunteers know your story.
- Refresh Videos - Do you need to make an updated video telling your story? Watch your current video(s) and see if this content accurately portrays the mission and vision of your nonprofit.
- Tell Your Story on Different Platforms - Update your website and social media to ensure your story is communicated in a clear and powerful way. Evaluate these platforms to see if they are accurately and effectively telling your story.
- Gather Insight on Website Updates - Do you need to update photos or images on your website? Summer is a good time to do that. Ask a few staff and volunteers and even donors to review the site and get their feedback. It's good to get fresh eyes outside the marketing team. They may see things that you or your team have missed.
Focus on Your Volunteers
- Show Appreciation to Volunteers - Care well for current volunteers. Plan or hold a volunteer appreciation event. This is a great opportunity to thank and recognize volunteers. It also gives volunteers the chance to interact with other like-minded people and an opportunity to talk with your staff.
- Get to Know Volunteers - Ask volunteers what they like about volunteering for your nonprofit. What drives them and what are they passionate about? Try to place them in volunteer positions that fit and serve these passions.
- Ask Volunteers for Feedback - Ask what you could do better as an organization. This can be a formal or informal survey, but volunteers will see things you don't. It's wise to hear and consider their thoughts and opinions.
