You've taken the first big steps in starting your new charity - congratulations! You've assembled your team of dedicated trustees, picked a name that represents your cause, chosen how you'll be structured, and officially registered with the Charity Commission. But now you might be wondering, "What's next?"….
Don't worry, I'm here to guide you through some straightforward and achievable steps to help build your charity's brand and image. Having a strong brand is so important, especially when you're just getting started. It allows you to clearly communicate who you are, what you stand for, and why your work matters. With a well-crafted brand, you'll be able to capture people's attention, inspire support, and ultimately drive more impact for the cause you care so deeply about.
In this piece, I'll walk through simple yet powerful branding initiatives that any new charity can implement. By investing time upfront into defining and promoting your brand, you'll set your charity up for greater long-term success. Let's get started!
1. Define Your Core:
Mission and Values: Write a clear and concise mission statement that captures your charity's purpose. Identify your core values that guide your actions.
Target Audience: Who are you trying to reach? Understanding their demographics, interests, and motivations will help tailor your message.
You can read more about building your brand identity here.
2. Craft Your Story:
Compelling Narrative: Develop a story that showcases the impact your charity makes, and the difference donations create.
Transparency and Trust: Be upfront about how you use donations and share success stories to build trust with potential supporters. You can also look to register with the Fundraising Regulator to show people that you are committed to fundraising in a way that is legal, open, honest, and respectful in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
3. Develop Your Brand Identity:
Visuals: Create a memorable logo, choose consistent colours and fonts, and develop a visual style guide for a cohesive look across platforms.
Voice and Tone: Establish a consistent voice and tone in your communication, whether it's informative, passionate, or inspiring, depending on your audience.
This is the bit I find exciting, building your visual brand. This is all the pretty things and done right, your audience should be able to recognise your content just by glancing at it. You can read more about building your visual identity in five steps here.
4. Build Your Brand Presence:
Website: Create a user-friendly website that clearly explains your mission, showcases your work, and offers ways to donate and get involved. If you are keen to build your own website, I recommend using a platform that uses templates like WIX or Squarespace.
Social Media: Choose relevant social media platforms and consistently share engaging content that resonates with your audience. Start small and use the channels you are familiar and confident with. The important thing is to create quality, authentic content that resonates with your audience rather than quantity.
If you're just beginning this exciting journey of launching your charity, I'd love to be a resource for you! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @hello_made_by_katie for daily tips on branding, website creation, marketing, and more. I'm passionate about empowering new charities like yours to share their important missions with the world effectively.
Or if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by your branding and marketing to-do list, no problem at all! I am happy to help relieve some of that pressure. Just send me a message to set up a free consultation call. We can discuss your goals and vision, and I can learn more about how I may be able to support you.
One of my most popular services for new charities is the Kickstart Package. With this, I'll create a logo suite for you with versions perfectly formatted for websites, social media profile pics. Plus, I'll design and build you a professional 5-page website on Wix or Squarespace to get you up and running online quickly. It's an easy, affordable way to launch with polished branding right out of the gate and we can tailor the package to meet your needs.
No matter where you are in the process, I'm here as a friendly guide to make this introduction to the non-profit world as smooth as possible. Don't hesitate to reach out - I'm excited to help showcase your charity's impact!
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