Branding for Nonprofits

I just finished reading DK Holland's excellent Branding for Nonprofits. Published in 2006, this slim volume is a must read for any nonprofit interesting in harnessing the power of branding (which should really be all of them) or even just considering working with professional graphic designers for the first time. Indeed, any designer already working with nonprofits might want to consider handing this out to new clients as a means of introduction.
The book, based on articles and lectures DK created for The Foundation Center, is filled with plenty of real world examples and resources and suggests a system of working that is easy to understand and follow. Holland does an excellent job spelling out the role of design and designers, while detailing most of the issues that come up as part of the branding process. While I wish more time was spent explaining why paying for design from folks that focus on nonprofits is better than asking for pro-bono work from large agencies (who make their money pushing cars, cigarettes, acohol, etc.), Ms. Holland does acknowledge that you often do get what you pay for.


Ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

Do you have Change For A Ten?

ART 180 is a Richmond, Virginia based non-profit that works to connect children in difficult circumstances to the self-expressive power of art. As part of their ongoing fundraising efforts they have created the Change For A Ten campaign. They are encouraging folks to create a ten dollar bill that expresses their vision for positive change in their community and send it along with an actual $10 donation. The resulting pieces are being displayed on their blog and will be eventually show in an exhibition at Virginia Commonwealth University's advertising department Brand Center. There's even a competition specifically for creative students/professionals (PDF).

Find out more about Change For A Ten and get a template to make your own submission HERE.

Why Bad Ads Happen To Good Causes

Why Bad Ads Happen To Good Causes, the classic work on how to best utilize print advertising for social causes (with plenty of examples of the good and the bad) is now a free downloadable PDF from communications consulting firm A Goodman. This is an invaluable resource for designers and clients alike!

Also available is Why Bad Presentations Happen To Good Causes.