0 Welcome! Making Sure You Aren't Alone in Communications To hear the audio, please call the conference call line: Call in: Access code: # To mute: *6 To un-mute: *7 For technical assistance:

Making Sure You Aren't Alone in Communications North Carolina Network of Grantmakers

2 Communications Grantee Training Initiative Making Sure You Aren't Alone in Communications Presenter: Mike Warner Vice President GYMR Public Relations

3 Communications Grantee Training Initiative Making Sure You Aren't Alone in Communications Presenter: Virginia Bader Senior Vice President GYMR Public Relations

The Basics (Again) Mission Goal Strategy Messages Tactics

Which comes first - the chicken or the egg? Two Step Approach: Internal Communications  First, improve communications to internal audiences.  Then, use internal spokespeople for external communications. ?

Who are your internal audiences? Keep them close!  Board of Directors  Funders  Leadership  Department or program leads  Volunteers  All staff ?

Step 1: Improve Internal Communications Example:

Tips for Better Internal Communications Instead of this … Send out a compilation of relevant news coverage. Try this … Send out the most important story along with a brief analysis of news coverage and a reminder of your organization’s position and messages.

Tips for Better Internal Communications Instead of this … Present your communications plan at a staff meeting. Try this … Incorporate colleagues at all levels in the planning process and have them present with you.

Tips for Better Internal Communications Instead of this … Have your colleagues keep you updated on what they have going on that could help you (and hope they stick to it). Try this … Set up a communications calendar using Google Docs and have your colleagues help you keep it current.

Tips for Better Internal Communications Instead of this … Send your board a “thud book” of all the media coverage you have received or events you did that year. Try this … Send a graphically interesting summary with a topline overview of what your goals were and how you met them.

Tips for Better Internal Communications Instead of this … Nag staff to find you stories to use in communications materials and outreach. Try this … Make communications fun: Start a competition between departments or interview staff members and use those stories as examples.

Tips for Better Internal Communications Instead of this … Use , text, smoke signals. Try this … Talk to people. Use the phone or (gasp!) perhaps meet in person. There is no substitute for this type of interaction to get buy in.

Step 2: Communicate Through Your Internal Audiences Example:

5 Tips For Cultivating Internal Spokespeople: 1.Get to know your potential spokespeople.

5 Tips For Cultivating Internal Spokespeople: 2. Define roles and expertise.

5 Tips For Cultivating Internal Spokespeople: 3. Have core messages and make sure your spokespeople know how to use them.

5 Tips For Cultivating Internal Spokespeople: 4. Formalize the process.

5 Tips For Cultivating Internal Spokespeople: 5. Keep things current.

Questions?

Thank You Reminder: The entire webinar series is archived at