21st Century Communications Strategies for Your Nonprofit

The Volunteer Center of N.E. Metro Chicago invites all interested Nonprofit Directors and Communications Officers for breakfast and a capacity building event with two industry heavy-hitters on Tuesday, November 19th from 8:30-10:30am at The Community House in Winnetka. Featuring Susan Noyes, Founder and Publisher of Make It Better Media Group, and Chris Hogan, Managing Director of i3 Insights, this will be a highly motivational training program designed to help build effective marketing and communications strategies for their nonprofits. This thought-provoking workshop will also be a valuable opportunity for networking with other nonprofits facing the same challenges. The VC will share a comprehensive local media contact list for attendees. Advance registration required by Monday am, November 18th. VolunteerCenterHelps.org

Susan Noyes will discuss “Activating Your Audience”, highlighting best communication practices that have proven to build awareness of and support for successful nonprofits – particularly online. This Amplification & Connection Strategy is particularly effective in improving sponsorships, donations and ticket sales for major fundraising events.

Chris Hogan will cover “Marketing Your Nonprofit”, with focus on applying Marketing Positioning to define and solidify your nonprofit’s image in the hearts and minds of your constituents. He will provide you a framework to help you articulate your nonprofit’s unique benefit, and why your constituents will believe it, over other relevant non-profits.

ABOUT SUSAN NOYES

In 2007, Susan founded makeitbetter.net, a small, community website. It blossomed into a multi-platform publishing company, serving similar demographics throughout Chicagoland, Marin County and San Francisco Bay Area — with a vibrant digital ecosystem, print magazines, custom publishing partnerships, videos, awards and signature events. All three publications–Better, Marin Magazine and SPACES and their corresponding digital platforms help generate those powerful, positive connections that will inspire you to live, love, work and play with greater purpose.

She also launched the Make It Better Foundation and annual Philanthropy Awards in 2012. She occasionally appears on CNBC’s Closing Bell Investor Roundtable. Susan practiced law for Sidley & Austin from 1983-1989, then focused her efforts as a philanthropist, and uber volunteer while raising 6 children. She serves on multiple Chicago nonprofit boards including American Red Cross Chicago Chapter, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Poetry Foundation.

Better, formerly known as Make it Better began as a small website 12 years ago and has grown into a multi-platform publishing company, serving similar demographics throughout Chicagoland and the San Francisco Bay Area — with a vibrant digital ecosystem, print magazines, custom publishing partnerships, videos, awards and signature events.Better’s dream continues to be to create, strengthen, and connect communities across the country. Simply put, Better helps generate those powerful, positive connections that will inspire you to live, love, work and play with greater purpose.

ABOUT CHRIS HOGAN

Chris is the Founder and Managing Director of i3Insights, a marketing and consumer insights consultancy across many industries. Chris is also a member of Executive Service Corps (ESC) an organization which provides consulting for non-profit organizations. He brings to his clients the knowledge gained and lessons learned from 35 years of experience working in consumer insights, shopper insights, analytics and category management. Chris has also taught consumer research as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Chicago.

Previously, Chris was SVP Consumer Insight & Analytics at ConAgra. His responsibilities included insights and analytics for both the Consumer and Commercial Business Units. Prior to ConAgra, Chris had a variety of insight positions with increasing responsibility at Kraft Foods including: VP Consumer Insights & Strategy Kraft International responsible for consumer and shopper insights in 70 countries around the globe; VP Category Management Kraft North America responsible for the creation and leadership of Kraft’s Shopper Insights team, as well as leading the Category Management initiatives for the Kraft Sales organization; Director Consumer Insights for multiple business units across the Kraft U.S. portfolio of products.

i3 Insights was founded by Chris Hogan, after Chris successfully accumulated 30+ years of experience leading Insights, Analytics and Category Management teams at multiple Fortune 100 companies. This includes both U.S. and International experience identifying marketing insights that drove Brand Strategy, Brand Communication, Innovation and Category Management Opportunities. As a result, i3 Insights provides an uncommon level of both breadth and depth of knowledge in activating consumer insights, shopper insights, analytics, and strategic marketing that influences, inspires and impacts your business results. Chris also is an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Chicago, teaching consumer research design and analysis.

About The Volunteer Center:

Since 1960 The Volunteer Center (VC) has served as a clearinghouse for volunteers and nonprofit organizations in New Trier Township and Northeast Metropolitan Chicago. The Mission of The Volunteer Center is to promote volunteerism, support nonprofit organizations, and engage people in meaningful volunteer service in the communities we serve.

In addition to hosting nonprofit training events, the VC refers potential volunteers to over 160 nonprofit partners who post episodic and ongoing volunteer opportunities on the VC website. It also annually involves thousands of community members in its annual Days of Service, which include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Kids against Hunger, September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance, Make A Difference Day, Thanksgiving Share Your Bounty and new in 2020, project on Earth Day. The Volunteer Center helps plan service activities with any size group - schools, faith-based, business and civic groups with its extensive list of nonprofit partners. More info - VolunteerCenterHelps.org

For additional information, contact Barb Tubekis, info@volunteercenterhelps.org