PPB July 2015

ON’T YOU WISH every campaign you

produce for clients could have the

unparalleled success of the ALS Ice

Bucket Challenge?

The viral phenomenon had people all over the globe

dumping buckets of ice water on their heads and then

challenging others to do the same. After the initiative

launched in the summer of 2014, it was covered by all

major news outlets, co-opted by celebrities and spoofed

repeatedly. To date, it has brought in more than $220

million to help raise awareness and find a cure for Lou

Gehrig’s disease.

However, for every knock-your-socks-off campaign

such as the ice bucket challenge, there are hundreds of

thousands of other worthwhile causes that also deserve

attention and support. The U.S. has more than 1.5 mil-

lion tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, according to

the National Center for Charitable Statistics. And all of

these depend on awareness, engagement and monetary

support to accomplish their missions.

Additionally, funding and awareness needs don’t dis-

appear after a successful promotion. Associations and

nonprofits need support year after year. But donor

retention rates average slightly less than 30 percent after

the first year of giving, according to research from

Blackbaud, a fundraising-software company.

Following are three PPAI Pyramid Award-winning

ways promotional consultants have helped nonprofit

clients rise above the noise and advance their causes

with promotional products.

PROMOTIONS

Deserving Causes

THOUGH OFTEN UNDER THE RADAR, THERE IS NO END TO THE WORK OF

NONPROFITS

BY TAMA UNDERWOOD

JULY 2015 •

PPB

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THINK