Becoming a charity owner means taking your philanthropic mindset to the next level. You already think of yourself as a generous person (and people often tell you so too). You love to give, and make regular donations to the charities around you. 

And now you’re at a point in your life and career where you feel like you can start doing the same. However, advertising a charity takes a skilled hand. It’s a bit different to advertising any other kind of business, and you need to know the why behind who you’re talking to. 

That can get a little bit complicated, so here’s a quick crash course on getting the word out about your new charity and its good intentions.

Be Clear What You’re Here For

No matter what your charity mission is, you need to be clear about who you’re targeting. Both in terms of who you’re here to help, and who you want to network amongst/draw investment from. 

You’re going to need to outline both sides as directly as possible, so you can start to draw up a list of where you can position yourself. 

This will help you put together your first marketing campaigns, as well as help you decide where and when to show up at conferences and events. 

Connect with Members Using Direct Mail

Charity marketing needs a personal touch. It needs to be something people can genuinely connect with. And there’s nothing better for that than actual physical marketing materials. 

You want to stand out in a person’s mind, for one, and that sometimes means being found in their mailbox, rather than just their inbox or social media feed. 

But at the same time, materials like custom printed postcards for associations can provide so much more interactivity, involvement, and personality. 

These are all elements you want to be associated with, as a new charity, and that’s an advantage direct mail has always had over virtual communications. 

Host or Show Up at Events

We mentioned events in our first point, but they deserve a section all of their own. After all, they’re one of the best ways for a charity to start pulling in initial interest and fundraising. 

At this point in time you’re only interested in getting your name, mission, and legitimacy out there, so there isn’t too much pressure here. However, you do still need to show up and make the best impression that you can.  

That will sometimes mean hosting events of your own, or being one of the fundraising targets behind local or regional events. 

Attracting a spokesperson to help lobby for this is key, but this forms another part of your networking. And it’s much easier to network when you know what you’re doing it for. 

Starting a charity is a very noble step, but getting the word out about the good work you want to do is another challenge. So, do your best to be present, network amongst the right people, and communicate personally.