Imerman Angels is a Chicago based nonprofit which provides one-on-one cancer mentorship. The network was established by Jonny Imerman, a survivor who believed no one should have to face cancer alone. Imerman recently spoke about using community and social media to create a culture of doing good. Below is his list of how to create a strong community and how to bring online communities offline. Mission has to be laser-focused People will get most excited about what you’re doing if they understand it thoroughly, and know that you have the focus to be effective and efficient in reaching your goals. It’s also easiest for people to remember exactly what you do. Keep confusion at bay. You have a lot of loyal supporters who can easily recall and share your mission; the better they understand it, the more likely they will be able to share it with others. Align any online and offline communications about your specific function, and know where to point people for other related services that you don’t provide. Brand, and don’t stop talking about it Imerman said, “I believe in it. In my message. I want every conversation to be a starting point; an opportunity to help another family”. He wears an Imerman Angels t-shirt every day, so any curious person becomes someone who he can tell about his nonprofit and his brand. By touching people in this simple but personal way, he gets others excited. It hasn’t yet been mentioned that Imerman has a magnetic personality and his passion and excitement are palpable. Make sure you’re embodying the personality you want your nonprofit to have in every moment possible. It’s a powerful way to start a conversation about what you’re accomplishing. Have an “ask” that isn’t money People are the root of your success, so you have to engage with your followers and fans personally. Specifically, engage people in a way that doesn’t make them feel like an ATM. Imerman says, “before asking for money, touch lives”. Run live or online events with low (or zero!) entrance fees, talk to people and educate them. Although grants offer a lot of financial security, they don’t raise awareness. Bear this in mind as you design a fundraising strategy so you can balance the human component with the funding side. Promoting a nonprofit online and offline is a very intricate dance. On one end, you must create awareness about the purpose and the goal of the organization. On the other, you have to keep the mission alive financially. While it may be very tempting to focus your message on fundraising, remember to make sure to do good by those who support the cause. They are, and always will be, your biggest advocates. While it may not always seem to make sense, focusing energy on nurturing these relationships will balance the human component of your mission with the financial side.
Imerman Angels is a Chicago based nonprofit which provides one-on-one cancer mentorship. The network was established by Jonny Imerman, a survivor who believed no one should have to face cancer alone. Imerman recently spoke about using community and social media to create a culture of doing good. Below is his list of how to create a strong community and how to bring online communities offline. Mission has to be laser-focused People will get most excited about what you’re doing if they understand it thoroughly, and know that you have the focus to be effective and efficient in reaching your goals. It’s also easiest for people to remember exactly what you do. Keep confusion at bay. You have a lot of loyal supporters who can easily recall and share your mission; the better they understand it, the more likely they will be able to share it with others. Align any online and offline communications about your specific function, and know where to point people for other related services that you don’t provide. Brand, and don’t stop talking about it Imerman said, “I believe in it. In my message. I want every conversation to be a starting point; an opportunity to help another family”. He wears an Imerman Angels t-shirt every day, so any curious person becomes someone who he can tell about his nonprofit and his brand. By touching people in this simple but personal way, he gets others excited. It hasn’t yet been mentioned that Imerman has a magnetic personality and his passion and excitement are palpable. Make sure you’re embodying the personality you want your nonprofit to have in every moment possible. It’s a powerful way to start a conversation about what you’re accomplishing. Have an “ask” that isn’t money People are the root of your success, so you have to engage with your followers and fans personally. Specifically, engage people in a way that doesn’t make them feel like an ATM. Imerman says, “before asking for money, touch lives”. Run live or online events with low (or zero!) entrance fees, talk to people and educate them. Although grants offer a lot of financial security, they don’t raise awareness. Bear this in mind as you design a fundraising strategy so you can balance the human component with the funding side. Promoting a nonprofit online and offline is a very intricate dance. On one end, you must create awareness about the purpose and the goal of the organization. On the other, you have to keep the mission alive financially. While it may be very tempting to focus your message on fundraising, remember to make sure to do good by those who support the cause. They are, and always will be, your biggest advocates. While it may not always seem to make sense, focusing energy on nurturing these relationships will balance the human component of your mission with the financial side.
