Blog
Are We Making Fundraising and Communication Too Complicated?
Are we making fundraising and communications too complicated? Honestly… yes, sometimes.
But the solution is simple: Focus on people. Tell real stories. Streamline your process.
Your donors don’t want to navigate a maze of messages. They just want to understand the impact of their support.
When we give them that clarity, we amplify the mission.
Brand Clarity: The Hidden Key to a Strong Monthly Donor Program
In our experience, many organizations are frustrated with a lack of success in attracting new monthly donors, and feeling like their monthly giving program is the problem. But, here’s the truth: before you can grow a healthy monthly donor program, you need a healthy brand. Read on to learn more about how a clearly defined brand helps build donor confidence and support for your mission.
What Interac’s Consumer Spending Trends Tell Us about Donor Engagement this Fall
As summer fades and we transition into fall, it's worth reflecting on something fascinating that happened across Canada over the past few months. While economists debated inflation rates and consumer confidence, we witnessed a quieter but more revealing story unfold in how people chose to spend their money. This wasn't simply about spending more or less, it was about spending with purpose. If you’re a non-profit communications staffer, or a charity leader, Interac’s recent report reveals that your donors are showing you what they value through their everyday decisions.
Brand Consistency: The Key to Building Trust
This Spring I’m connecting with charity leaders who are doing incredible, hope-filled work across Canada. In every conversation we’re talking about what is shifting in the world - and let’s be honest, this is a rapidly shifting world at the moment. What’s important to me is how to support these organizations so they can stay ahead without burning out and ensure they’ve got what they need to make it through this season.
10 key trends you need to know about, and what they might mean for your organization this year.
This Spring I’m connecting with charity leaders who are doing incredible, hope-filled work across Canada. In every conversation we’re talking about what is shifting in the world - and let’s be honest, this is a rapidly shifting world at the moment. What’s important to me is how to support these organizations so they can stay ahead without burning out and ensure they’ve got what they need to make it through this season.
The Graf-Martin Story - Taking Our Place in Canadian Women’s History!
By living out their values of hope, generosity and justice, and fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment, Graf-Martin is helping change history, one brand strategy, PR campaign, or marketing plan at a time.
Marketing for Good - Ellen’s legacy on hope, generosity and justice
In this article, Ellen shares an incredible story that highlights how God doesn’t forget anything and uses everything. It illustrates how God weaves our accomplishments, experiences and stories together with others to fulfil His plan, and showcases the importance of building something bigger than yourself.
Plan for a Crisis with a Crisis Communications Plan
Prepare your organization for the unexpected with a comprehensive crisis communications plan. From risk analysis to team building and media training, ensure your readiness for any crisis situation with expert guidance and support.
Elevating Your Mission: The Graf-Martin Approach to Donor Acquisition
Discover a transformative approach to donor acquisition with Graf-Martin Communications. Our unique blend of expertise, rooted in lived experiences within faith-based nonprofits, crafts personalized storytelling, strategic digital outreach, and genuine community engagement. Say goodbye to cookie-cutter solutions. We tailor strategies to your unique mission, fostering conversations, not just campaigns. Partner with us for enduring support and a measurable difference. Elevate your nonprofit's potential with Graf-Martin Communications - where each dollar raised is a step towards achieving your mission.
Navigating Nonprofit PR: Why Cutting Budgets Isn't the Answer
In challenging economic times, while the instinct may be to slash budgets in PR, marketing, and advertising, doing so could be counterproductive. Find out how to keep your cause at the forefront with strategic PR solutions.
Empowering Nonprofits Through Strategic Branding
Explore how strategic branding can differentiate and empower nonprofits, build trust, and create lasting connections. Gain insights on enhancing identity, trust, donor engagement, and market positioning for impactful nonprofit success.
What Makes a Successful Year-End Campaign?
Unlock the secrets to a successful year-end campaign with our comprehensive guide. Discover how early planning, SMART goals, compelling storytelling, and Tangible Impact Goals (TIGs) can transform your nonprofit's end-of-year fundraising efforts. Learn why up to 50% of a charity's annual income is generated in the last quarter and how to engage donors effectively during this crucial period. Whether it's through emotional storytelling, using visual aids like photos and videos, or setting clear, measurable objectives, our blog post provides invaluable insights for maximizing your year-end appeal. Perfect for marketing managers and nonprofit leaders looking to boost their year-end results and celebrate their achievements.
GivingTuesday: Generosity is our Privilege
This November 28, join a global movement where every act of kindness, big or small, contributes to a larger narrative of hope and positive change. Learn how GivingTuesday transcends mere donations, embodying a core human value and privilege that empowers us all to make a meaningful difference. Get inspired to participate in this day of global generosity and discover how your contributions, whether through time, talent, voice, or resources, can help shape a more compassionate world.
Stories That Inspire: Transforming Nonprofit Marketing with the Power of Narrative
Discover the transformative power of storytelling in nonprofit marketing with our insightful blog post, 'Stories That Inspire.' Learn how emotional narratives can build deep connections, foster trust, and create a community of supporters. Dive into the strategic approach of using compelling stories to differentiate your nonprofit, engage audiences, and build a lasting brand. Perfect for nonprofit professionals seeking innovative ways to inspire action and sustain advocacy.
The Only Woman In The Room
Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are genuine needs, and often, we don't know where to start addressing them. Surprisingly, I regularly get asked how to diversify a team or charity board, which might seem odd (it did to me.) Thank you to Faith Today Magazine for inviting me to contribute my thoughts on this in their brand-new issue.
The reality is, sometimes getting started means looking at who is the "only one" in the room, making room and inviting more underrepresented people in. And it might be as simple as starting with women. (Don't stop there. 😉)
Tip Tuesday: Marketing for Nonprofits
For today’s Tip Tuesday, we want to lend a helping hand to nonprofits who need to market their organization. We believe every organization needs its own voice to be heard in order to spread awareness and gain support for its mission, and that is done through marketing.
Why Donors Should Fund Brand & Marketing Strategy
Donors rarely get asked to fund Brand initiatives or strategy development, or Marketing Strategy, and I get why not. It’s not what they “signed up for” as a donor, is it?
How’s Your Brand Strategy?
We love working to strengthen organizations committed to hope, generosity and justice. The leaders of these organizations (let’s call them Kim and Paul), don’t just love what they do - they love who they serve, and they love how they get to serve.
Industry News: Ellen Graf-Martin Inducted into 2023 Canadian Marketing Hall of Fame
Just last week, Founder and President, Ellen Graf-Martin, was inducted into the 2023 Canada Marketing, Advertising, PR and Communication ‘Hall of Fame’ presented by Marketing News Canada. The announcement was made on June 8, 2023 at this year’s Social West Marketing Conference in Calgary, AB.
Why Your Missing Marketing Strategy Matters
A clear, simple marketing and communications strategy moves your brand into action, with simple, measurable targets, clear strategic focus, and ties your charitable or ministry goals to tangible activities. It’s how you intentionally move people toward your organization - with a plan!