Using the Whole Whale - A Nonprofit Podcast

084: Totally Uncorked with Nonprofit Branding Evangelist Elaine Fogel

If you think nonprofit branding is important, this podcast is for you.

We speak with author, speaker, marketer, brand and customer experience evangelist, educator, and consultant Elaine Fogel, president and CMO of Solutions Marketing & Consulting LLC located in Scottsdale, Arizona. A sought-after marketing and branding thought leader who specializes in small-to-medium businesses and nonprofit organizations, Elaine speaks to us about the elements of a strong brand:

• Purpose
• Consistency
• Professionalism
• Commitment

Elaine's background in working with celebrity spokespeople and corporate partnerships with the likes of Nike, Ford, Aventis, and Air Canada has also given her the expertise to write Beyond Your Logo: 7 Brand Ideas That Matter Most for Small Business Success (a 2016 Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards as well as the Next Generation Indie Book Awards). We talk about those 7 ideas and more.

We also love her blog, Totally Uncorked.

083: Amplifying talent in the arts — on both sides of the curtain — with 21C Media Group

In M+R's 2017 Benchmarks Study, cultural nonprofits emerged as the MVP in several areas. Email list size growth was more than double the overall nonprofit average (21% compared to 10%). Website visitor signup rates were simiarly higher than average — 2.7% for cultural nonprofits versus the overall average of 1.1%. This sector also had the largest Twitter and Instagram audiences relative to email list size.

Rock on, culture!

With the arts making up a sizable portion of the nonprofit sphere, we sat down with 21C Media Group, a leading public relations, digital, and consulting firm specializing in the performing arts world whose roster of digital clients includes Plácido Domingo, Joshua Bell, and Yo-Yo Ma and on the institutional side they work with such nonprofit organizations as the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and Music Academy of the West. (Also, the YouTube Symphony Orchestra? They had a hand in that.) One big question on our minds: How do you make classical music and the performing arts relevant in the digital age?

We pose the question Sean Michael Gross, 21C's Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, who has been with the company since 2007 and founded 21C's digital division in 2009. Fun fact: Sean was Account Strategist Whaler Olivia Marlowe-Giovetti's boss at 21C before she joined Whole Whale in 2017 (hashtag-battleofthebosses?).

082: Understanding workplace giving with America's Charities

Workplace giving contributes roughly $4 billion to charities in the U.S. each year. As the data show, there is a burgeoning interest in the workforce of aligning with organizations that share their personal values, and that includes giving back either through monetary contributions or in-kind pro bono work. 

There's no organization better suited to talk about workplace giving than America's Charities (though we may be biased — George chairs the board). We sat down with their Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Lindsay J.K. Nichols, to learn more about the ways companies are giving back to the causes that matter most to their employees. Lindsay also shares data from America's Charities annual snapshot on how companies feel about workplace giving and why it matters. 

081: Risky Business with Risk Alternatives

Risk: Grey hair generator, or force for good? We talk with Ted Bilich, CEO of DC-based Risk Alternatives. Their mission is to build stronger communities by helping nonprofits and startups master risk management and process improvement, implementing a regular cycle to create a resilient culture. No one wants to talk about all of the things that can go wrong, but by making it part of our regular diet, we become more agile when spotting the icebergs ahead. 

080: Using Facebook Messaging for Organizations

We interview Michael Sabat, Founder of @Mssg and talk about how organizations can more easily us Facebook messaging to collect information and connect with their audience. 

079: The role of a digital team at Communities in Schools

We interview Shakirah A. Hill| Director, Digital Strategy at the Communities In Schools National Office. The discussion covers breaking down silos across the organization and how to balance data and anecdotes in storytelling. 

078: GivingTuesday Predictions and tips for your organization

November 28th, 2017 is the big day - #GivingTuesday is the national day of giving following Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We share our predictions and quick tips for how to maximize the day for your nonprofit. 

077: Making fundraising mobile with MobileCause

Interview with Sean MacNeill who joined MobileCause as CEO and a member of the board of directors in June 2013. With nearly 20 years of industry experience ranging from technology and engineering to strategic planning and product management, including prior CEO and COO roles at prominent software and technology companies, Sean’s multidimensional approach to leadership has helped him drive growth in all aspects of the company.

076: Distilling what you need to know about SEO for social impact

Conversation with Will Critchlow, CEO and Founder of Distilled, a leading SEO agency. We discuss the elements of SEO that matter for organizations and some of the tools that should be used. 

075: How to think about designing and building websites with Great Believer

Interview with Josh Riman, the founder of Great Believer, a nonprofit focused design firm. We discuss how nonprofits can manage their website design work successfully for maximum impact. 

Full resources available here