Taking this Nonprofit to the Next Level
After recently completing its 2020-23 Strategic Plan, St. Francis Seraph Ministries (SFSM) engaged Cincinnati Marketing Solutions to create and implement a strategic marketing and communications plan. Thanks to team leadership from Tamie Sullivan, CMS’s Senior Marketing & Nonprofit Specialist, CMS has been awarded a new contract to work with SFSM to increase brand awareness and tell the nonprofit’s story of success.
Their Challenge:
SFSM is an independent nonprofit with four direct-service programs, including dining room meal service, bag lunches and meals to go, Sarah Center employment training and cooking courses. All four programs serve to nourish and nurture people in need, while working in collaboration with a variety of partners in the St. Anthony Center and the surrounding community. During the coronavirus pandemic, SFSM continues to serve meals, while working within necessary protocols to keep guests and staff safe at all times. The situation is constantly changing, while more homeless and working poor residents are being increasingly challenged by economic and health crises.
Our Solution:
Project Overview/Action Steps/Deliverables
• Marketing Communications audit to include review of current messaging across all platforms (print and digital channels) for consistent use of agency mission statement, tagline, key messaging.
• Research best industry practices and identify unique differentiators
• Develop key messaging, brand position statement and tagline to communication consistently with internal and external audiences, partners and stakeholders
• Based on learnings, write a dynamic one-year marketing plan to position the organization to adapt to the uncertainty and change throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Public relations strategy for regular earned media placements
• Digital email marketing & social media strategy
• Optimization of current website, digital assets
The Results:
•Announcement of dining room reopening following Covid shut down.
• November 13, 2020 on wcpo.com: https://www.wcpo.com/news/our-community/as-pandemic-rages-this-winter-could-be-worst-in-years-for-homelessness-in-greater-cincinnati
• November 21,2020 in The Enquirer: (pdf of news clip attached)
• Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2020 in The Cincinnati Herald (also have this clip)
• Grants received: $38,810 from Bethesda Foundation for improved air cleaning equipment for the dining room.
• Recommendation agreed to for identity and website redesign, both of which are in early development stages.
The previous brand mark; new concept and current logo are below. Website coming soon!
