Date: Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Michael's on East, Sarasota

In this special professional development luncheon, you'll have a chance to network with your peers from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This session is perfect for for-profits, nonprofits and independent communications professionals alike.

Reputation management is one of the current “hot topics” in fundraising, public relations and marketing circles. So what does it really mean? Whose responsibility is it? If we all want the same thing, why can’t we all just get along?

Consistent messaging across all internal and external communication is critical to successful fundraising and branding, and to an organization’s credibility. Once trust in an organization is lost, it’s nearly impossible to regain. While it is a simple concept, creating and implementing an integrated communications and marketing plan can be challenging.

Integrating communications allows an organization to make the best use of its resources to achieve both fundraising and mission goals. Different aspects of communication are frequently handled by different departments in an organization and driven by different factors. Internal and external audiences are often treated differently. An institutional approach to message development can help staff and volunteers remain consistent, understand why a message is phrased in a particular way as well as how they can best use the information.

Steps necessary to successfully integrate communications include identifying all audiences, determining which communication tools serve which audiences, and developing key messages, a timeline of planned communication and a process for handling spontaneous needs (e.g. crisis communication, special recognition for a significant gift while clarifying continuing need, responding to a societal issue that affects the organization).

TO REGISTER, e-mail afpfl@verizon.net or click here. Be sure to state your membership status with FPRA.