The average nonprofit organisation has anywhere from five to ten board members, ten to twenty-five staff members, and then hundreds to thousands of clients spread out all over Australia and beyond. With so many people paying close attention to every email, social media post, and blog article, you need strong communication to support your various operational and financial goals.
The power of words cannot be understated. In Australia, we see not-for-profit (NFP) organisations ranging from small community initiatives to lower drug use to large-scale operations supporting people who are deaf or hard of hearing and funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). In all cases, what you say, how you say it, and the pathways you choose to deliver messages directly impact how well you can achieve your operational success.
Why Communication Matters to Your NFP?
Your organisation’s effective communication methods are a lifeline to your daily activities. Such information creates a singular point of contact with your board members, major donors, potential new donors, and target audience. Quality communication channels ensure your message resonates with your audience. It grants benefits like:
- Building and maintaining new donor relationships to fund capital investment.
- Enhancing overall public presence and social awareness of your mission.
- Engaging the greater community you are serving and their support family/friend members.
- Encouraging more participation in the various events and programming you launch.
- Attracting and retaining experienced volunteers to keep your mission on track.
- Cultivating internal cohesion and efficiency among your team members and stakeholders.
- Building new partnerships with other community organisations and political leaders.
- Influence public policy and bolster advocacy work.
- Receiving feedback.
- And more.
Without these key communication goals, you risk falling behind in your ability to meet and exceed the needs of your clientele. Most importantly, having strong communication gets everyone involved on board with your various goals and processes. Here are some of the crucial communications and announcements you should be sending out from your not-for-profit.
1 – Donor Testimonials
Donors on the fence about giving money to your organisation will feel more supported if they see, read, or view stories from others doing the same. For example, if you have an engaging testimonial from a significant donor contributing to your NFP focusing on wildlife conservation, they will be able to hit the key points and emotional connections your target donors respond to the most.
That personalised story about seeing a rare animal thought to be extinct or holding a cute baby animal on camera isn’t just a testimonial. It is a powerful tool to inspire others.
2 – Personal Client Stories
At the end of the day, you are supporting services related to healthcare, government programs, and community support. If you want to resonate the most with your audience, you should highlight and share the personal stories of your clients overcoming some obstacles.
For instance, share a story about your NDIS-approved program that connects amputees with medical facilities and rehabilitation services. Even something as simple as a story of being able to walk into a fast-food joint and eat a burger without the assistance of a cane or wheelchair can impact your target audience by displaying a narrative of overcoming challenges and achieving personal goals.
3 – Staff/Volunteer Member Bios
We at Web 105 cannot emphasise this enough. Help your audience learn more about your volunteers and staff members. Humanise them so there is a personal and emotional connection with your clients, stakeholders, and donors.
When you rely on the personal stories of coming from larger families, moving from abroad, or even those members that cook a mean meat pie, you are allowing the world to better associate with your brand at a deeper and more intimate level.
4 – Key Company News
This communication tool is pretty straightforward. Don’t be afraid to share company news. You should be proud to talk about new developments or additions to your team. Things like a new initiative for rebuilding a section of your facility or celebrating a recent government grant keep your donor base informed and involved.
It’s the first step to a communication handshake that invites them to learn more about who you are, what you do, and how you are unique. Such transparency is the foundation of trust.
5 – Upcoming Events
Announcing events, be it a local fundraising gala or an online seminar, is crucial. For example, an NFP hosting a community event to raise money for children with cancer or to discuss mental health in the veteran community can significantly boost engagement and awareness.
If you can, send out a press release or get your event added to local online calendars. You want the community to see you are active and doing your part to fulfill your NFP’s mission.
6 – Deep Dive into Programs and Services
It’s perfectly okay to talk about what you do. If you have an innovative technology that helps people who have lost hearing get back some capabilities, get into the details, and share the technology behind your initiatives.
Providing detailed insights into your programs, such as an educational initiative for underprivileged children, can help potential supporters understand where their donations are going. You are “pulling back the curtain” so people can see what you are doing and provide exactly what you promised.
7 – Discussing Future Planning and Capital Investment
Transparency about future plans, like a new community centre, can solidify the trust of your supporters. It shows that you are not just working for the present but are committed to long-term goals.
This is imperative for any NDIS-funded nonprofit. You don’t want any instance of financial misuse to muddy the waters of your hardworking team. Be open about how you are using money to create more services, improve facilities, or expand operations.
8 – Partner Organisations in the Area
Highlighting collaborations with other NFPs can showcase your organisation’s commitment to community and collective impact. For instance, partnering with a local food bank can amplify the reach and effectiveness of your restaurant run by ex-convicts.
Social media is going to be a vital tool in this effort. Tagging one another in videos, photos, or text content helps spread the word with your target audience. It isn’t about “going viral.” You are more interested in fine-tuning communication to keep a specific clientele well-informed.
9 – Internal Memos and Announcements
Internal communication often gets overlooked by organisations of all sizes and types. You cannot operate effectively if your team doesn’t understand what you are trying to achieve. Be clear about your goals, operations, and upcoming changes.
Invite feedback and cultivate a company culture of sharing so all communication gets to the appropriate person at the right time. This could be as simple as a monthly newsletter detailing the organisation’s current focus and achievements.
Where to Get Started
Effective communication is not just a tool. It is a 100% certainty if you want to succeed. As an Australian NFP organisation, your first step toward better communicating is having a modern, mobile-responsive website.
Our team at Web 105 can help you with that very challenge. We have years of experience working with government entities, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organisations all over Australia. We leverage professional website design experts and developers to make a streamlined and highly optimised online presence for your company.
Give us a call today, and let’s discuss how your communication can be infused into a revamped or brand-new website.
FAQ
Why is communication important for nonprofits?
It connects all the various people associated with your organisation together by getting everyone on the same page concerning activities, initiatives, services, and goals.
What are the communications objectives of a nonprofit organisation?
First, you want to inform your target audience about everything your company is doing. Next, you want to leverage these communication methods to build a brand and infuse your marketing with a story.