Resiliency Pro Bono Project Highlight: Communications Plan

In times of crisis, nonprofits and social good organizations often lead the rebuilding and recovery efforts communities rely on. But these same organizations struggle to get the funding, volunteer support, and resources they need to serve others. Pro bono can help fill those gaps.   

We’re breaking down our nonprofit resource, Building Resiliency Through Pro Bono, project by project to highlight how connections with skilled volunteers can help your organization grow more resilient. Check out our previous project highlights on leadership coaching, board recruitment strategy, and competitor and collaborator analysis, and our latest installment below: partnering with a skilled volunteer to build a communications plan.

Start a communications plan project now on Taproot Plus!  

 How will a communications plan help my organization build resiliency?  

Communicating clearly, concisely, and consistently is key for keeping stakeholders and staff members engaged—and it’s even more vital in times of flux. Work with a skilled communications professional to create a checklist to guide your organization through the who, what, when, and how of sharing program updates, internal shifts, or responses to current events. This checklist should pull in all the various channels you use to reach staff, users, clients, volunteers, or funders so you have a standardized plan for outreach.  

Nonprofits indicated ‘Marketing and Communications’ as their single highest area of need. 66% of organizations said they would require support in the next 6-12 months, up from 62% at the outset of the pandemic.
Source: Taproot Foundation’s 2020 nonprofit resiliency survey 

How long will this project take to complete? 

A typical pro bono communications plan project takes from 12-24 hours to complete. It’s good to remember that your volunteer partner will be sharing around three to five hours of their time with your team per week. Go the extra mile to make sure your project is set up for success with these tips on setting expectations for timeline and communication. 

Any other tips on making the most of this pro bono project?  

Before creating your communications checklist, take stock of existing email, PR, or social media tactics that have worked well for your team in the past. A conversation with a marketing pro can help refine that list. Request a one-hour communications consultation session through Taproot Plus. 

What other related projects can I knock off the to-do list using pro bono support? 

• PR Strategy  
• Copywriting 
• Newsletter Design 

Download the full Building Resiliency Through Pro Bono resource  for more ideas on pro bono projects that could build capacity and long-term sustainability at your organization.   

Start a communications plan project now on Taproot Plus!