5 Steps to Unleash Your Identity

We have all heard the phrase the first impression is a lasting impression. The same can be said about your nonprofit's identity. Your organization's identity is an arrangement of many different elements that all come together to create an image and express to the public who you are. In order to grow your nonprofit’s reach one of the best things to do is to establish a strong identity. Check out some of our tips below to help you unleash your identity.

Establish your purpose

One of the primary elements your identity should have is a purpose. This can be anything from an objective to solve a societal problem or simply a story or experience that led to the establishment of your organization. By creating purpose, you add substantial value to your identity for a supporter. Once this purpose is established it should be used as the foundation for your messaging, or even when facing an internal conflict. Just like with people, never forget where you (or your nonprofit) came from.

Conduct market research

When establishing your identity, you should spend adequate time doing market research. Market research is a crucial step when creating an identity. It will not only help you understand your target audience but develop a donor persona for your organization that can help make your marketing efforts more effective.

Develop a Unique Service Proposition

With tons of nonprofits established in every imaginable sphere of life, it can become difficult to differentiate your nonprofit from one of your competitors. One of the best ways to create this differentiation is through a USP, or unique service proposition. A strong USP will clearly show what makes your nonprofit unique and will have the potential to have a lasting effect on your supporters. So be creative but be patient and begin developing your USP.

Make a memorable brand

When people think about organizational identity, they often jump straight to the brand. This is because we often connect this visual identifier with the organization it represents. For example, when someone says Nike, we think of the swoosh logo, slogan, and Nike-specific colors, or when someone mentions McDonalds, we will think of those golden arches, the slogan, jingle, and those bright red and yellow colors. Your brand should be attractive with a well-thought out strategy behind the imagery, voice, and colors you chose.

Be Adaptable

One thing many successful organizations have in common is their adaptability. Your identity should be uniquely you but it should also have a little flexibility to it so that as time goes on, your organization continues to be relatable without losing the progress you have made.