It seems Scrooge and not Santa is more popular this holiday season. Nonprofits, large and small, are feeling the financial pinch due to the tough economic climate.

With steep budget cuts at the state and county levels, a drop in individual donations, fewer foundation grants, and limited corporate contributions available in many regions, the competition for funding and charitable dollars is fierce.

According to the eighth annual nonprofit economic survey by GuideStar, the proportion of charitable organizations reporting decreased contributions rose for the second consecutive year but remained comparable to results for late 2008 and early 2009.

The tough environment is forcing many nonprofits to make hard decisions – whether it is scaling back programs, reducing staff or delaying initiatives. But now, while the economy is still struggling, presents an opportunity to revisit the role of communications and how it can actually help transform gray skies into blue.

It may not seem like it, but now is the best time to position your nonprofit for the future. Is your nonprofit truly connecting with donors and are you cultivating relationships with those key entities that provide funding streams? Is your nonprofit forgotten, or are you fighting to stay in the public eye?

While many nonprofits are pulling the plug on outreach efforts, others are getting creative – employing new strategies and tactics to overcome the recession. Several timely and effective strategies for your organization may include:

• Forging new corporate partnerships
• Focusing on measurable outcomes
• Storytelling to share success
• Refining the brand
• Reevaluating messaging
• Revisiting the website
• Adjusting services to ensure they meet current needs
• Engaging in social media to increase awareness, engage audiences, inspire action, increase online donations and attract volunteers

Nonprofits with vision will not attempt to simply wait out the financial storm. Instead, they will ensure that strategic communications is at the heart of any effort to build long-term sustainability and strength.

ROCKVILLE, MD – Image One PR received a distinguished 2009 Gold MarCom Award for an e -newsletter it created for the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families.

The social marketing firm created a brand strategy and visual identity for the Montgomery County out-of-school time system, including a new name (Excel Beyond the Bell), tagline (Laugh, Learn, Achieve), logo, brand materials, vision/mission statements and messages. In 2009, Image One PR also created a new “Time to Excel” video and website to help advance quality out-of-school time success in Montgomery County.

Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, the MarCom Awards recognize excellence in communications, marketing, and emerging media. This year’s MarCom winners were selected from more than 5,000 entries throughout the United States and several other countries. The Gold Award represents marketing and communications excellence that exceeds the high standards of the industry norm. About 18 percent of the 2009 entries were Gold Winners.

Founded in 2002, Image One PR provides public relations, marketing, and graphic design services to a range of private and public-sector clients in the Baltimore, Washington, Virginia Metro region.

ROCKVILLE, MD – Image One PR received a distinguished 2009 Platinum Marcom Award for its redesigned website at www.imageonepr.com. The site won in the overall website category. Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, the MarCom Awards recognize excellence in communications, marketing, and emerging media.

This year’s MarCom winners were selected from more than 5,000 entries throughout the United States and several other countries. The Platinum Award represents the organization’s highest honor for marketing and communications excellence. About 18 percent of the 2009 entries were Platinum Winners.

Founded in 2002, Image One PR provides public relations, marketing, and graphic design services to a range of private and public-sector clients in the Baltimore, Washington, Virginia Metro region.

Image One PR is launching a new blog – inspire good™. We decided to name our blog after our tagline in hopes that our online conversation will inspire positive and meaningful outcomes.

At Image One PR, we spend a lot of time thinking about effective communication, public relations, and marketing. We aim to share our insights, experience, and knowledge on many topics, including:

• Branding and graphic design
• Social media and media relations
• Health communications
• Nonprofit and association marketing

We hope you will stop by often to read our posts. We welcome your comments and ideas for topics as well. Stay tuned!

For Immediate Release
August 8, 2009

ROCKVILLE, MD – Image One PR receives four leading communications awards for its “Excel Beyond the Bell Brand Strategy” created for the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families and its out-of-school time youth development initiative.

Image One PR won the following 2009 awards for nonprofit brand strategy development:

• Silver Communicator
• Gold Hermes Creative
• Gold MarCom
• APEX Award

These awards recognize outstanding achievement in marketing and communications. Image One PR created a brand strategy and visual identity for the Montgomery County out-of-school time system, including a new name (Excel Beyond the Bell), tagline (Laugh, Learn, Achieve), logo, brand materials, vision/mission statements and messages. This summer, Image One PR also created a new “Time to Excel” video to help advance quality out-of-school time success in Montgomery County.

“Image One PR is honored to be selected for these distinguished communications awards across four different competitions,” said Image One PR Founder and Senior Partner Bill Weger. “We hope the Excel Beyond the Bell brand strategy will help to inspire children and youth to participate in quality out-of-school time activities in Montgomery County, Maryland.”

Founded in 2002, Image One PR provides public relations, marketing, and graphic design services to a range of private and public-sector clients in the Baltimore, Washington, Virginia Metro region. The Rockville-based firm has received 18 national and international awards for communications excellence.

For Immediate Release
December 4, 2008

ROCKVILLE, MD – Image One PR has won a 2008 Gold MarCom Award for its “Excel Beyond the Bell” Brand Strategy created for the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families and its out-of-school time youth development initiative.

The MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communications professionals. The competition is among the largest of its kind in the world with more than 5,000 entries annually. About 18 percent of the 2008 entries were Gold Winners.

Image One PR created a brand strategy and visual identity for the Montgomery County out-of-school time system, including a new name (Excel Beyond the Bell), tagline (Laugh, Learn, Achieve), logo, brand materials, vision/mission statements and messages.

Founded in 2002, Image One PR provides public relations, marketing, and graphic design services to a range of private and public-sector clients in the Baltimore, Washington, Virginia Metro region.

For Immediate Release
June 9, 2008

Image One PR Wins Silver Communicator Award for its Agency Marketing Brochure
ROCKVILLE, MD – Image One PR has won a 2008 Silver Communicator Award for its new marketing brochure.

The marketing and public relations firm was awarded one Award of Distinction for outstanding work in the business-to-business advertising category.

The Communicator Awards is an annual international competition that honors the work of media professionals that meet and exceed industry standards. For more information about these awards, visit www.communicator-awards.com.

Founded in 2003, Image One PR is a full-service firm that provides comprehensive public relations, marketing and graphic design services.