As a rule, non-profit agencies can make great marketing partners.
Now, before I get too far into this, let me state, for the record that what I really talking about is lending help to one of the many worthy charitable organizations in the world that provide community and health services by forming a partner relationship that includes showing them how to better communicate their story.
To take full advantage of partnering with a non-profit group you should approach it as a formal relationship. While many consider writing a check to the organization to be such a relationship, I’m talking about something much deeper. I believe both parties can be big winners if find an organization whose mission motivate you and then you propose ways that you can contribute cash, products and services, volunteers, event management, promotions with incentives for the organization, marketing muscle to tell their story and maybe even creating online tools such as blog.
My experience is that many non-profits are hungry for this deeper form of relationship and would be more than happy to communicate your roll in creating this unique relationship to their staff, board, committees, volunteers, donors and constituents as well.
You can really kick this type of referral into high gear if you can create a promotion that generates dollars and exposure for your group when people participate.
I will warn you though that you must believe in the cause you partner with and pursue this path because of a desire to help. That’s the only way everyone will win. But, I believe, and many non-profits know for a fact, that your company will be most prepared to provide the greatest level of help when everyone wins.
Any non-profit agency readers out there care to comment on how you would like to see organizations partner better with you?








Another group of Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Coaches hit the streets this week. After attending the required two day training intensive held in sunny Kansas City, this group of newly minted coaches returned to their homes in Dallas, Vancouver, Baton Rouge, London, Kansas City, Chicago and Pennsylvania to begin delivering the Duct Tape Marketing system to small businesses in their communities.
I interviewed Kate and Andy Spade prior to their appearance at the OPEN from American Express brand building session. The room was packed and my little Olympus mp3 recorder caught plenty of crowd noise.
Michael wrote the foreword to my upcoming book, Duct Tape Marketing – The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide, and is joining me to share his always thought provoking views on small business.
I will running bits and pieces of an interview with