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Running a Successful Fundraising Campaign

How to Run a Successful Fundraising Campaign

Old Bill’s Fun Run is a local philanthropic fundraising race in Jackson Hole that is quickly setting the standard for what community wellness can look like in rural areas. The mission of Old Bill’s is to highlight the critical work and increase funding to local non-profits. This includes funding to support public health, reach marginalized populations, and support emergency service work in Teton County. Bringing the community together over shared philanthropy creates stability in a mountain community that can often be in motion. Strategic messaging can bolster and increase the credibility of your non-profit mission. The Old Bill’s fundraiser and community race every Fall is the perfect platform for you to raise awareness and tell the story of your non-profit.

Old Bill's Fun Run race. Via: Old Bills Fun Run
via Old Bill’s Fun Run

Old Bill’s Fun Run has poured funding into nonprofits in the community since 1997. Philanthropic events like Old Bill’s Fun Run center their mission around the community. Did you know that there are more than 200 non-profits that serve Teton County, WY! This community, like most all over the country, has its setbacks, challenges, and barriers. We also know that when we amplify non-profits they pour back into the community.

Old Bill's Fun Run

This guide will hopefully help you tackle a fundraising campaign, similar to Old Bill’s Fun Run. It can be a daunting task to stand out among the rest, but it is possible!

Preparing Your Marketing and Fundraising Campaign:

1. Target Market Audience

Who is your audience and where do they spend their time? Your donors may be a bit older and may not be a social media like your younger audience may like to spend their time. Plan to add targeted ads to your strategy for an impactful campaign and explore more platform like radio, newspaper, and digital ads on popular community websites.

2. Set a Clear Budget for Fundraising

There is a fine balance between making an impact with your ad spend versus unintentionally wasting marketing funds that could’ve been used strategically on other goals in your campaign. Having a clearly defined marketing budget, that includes an advertising budget for print and digital media, will help your organization to move more efficiently through the length of your marketing campaign.

3. Get Real and Tell the Story

Tell your impact story in the campaign. A non-profit’s mission is only as effective as the lives that it elevates. Empowering people and enriching the lives of the locals who serve a community is the goal of any non-profit. It becomes critical to make your brand story authentic and believable with your marketing to build trust with viewers.

Building a strong narrative that is supported by high-quality imagery, testimonials, consistent brand identity, compelling storytelling, and messaging lends itself to an authentic and honest story. If you can pierce your audience emotionally with the impact you are creating for real people – you can fund the mission of a non-profit servicing Teton County.

4. Pacing Your Campaign

Prepare your media and scheduling (for the most optimal time) can be a critical part of your campaign visibility. Do you have a plan for preparing, organizing, and scheduling the media for your campaign? Whether you are utilizing supportive graphics, photos or videos, having them prepared and ready to go will help keep the rhythm of your campaign steady and consistent.

Rising Together with Strategic Fundraising Campaigns

Intentional preparation and attending to the 4 key steps listed above can help your campaign run successfully. We rise together by funding service industry work and supporting every non-profit’s success. Consider donating to support the livelihood of the individual stories that hold up the economy in Jackson Hole. Together, we can make a difference!


Interested in working with Transcend Ideas for your non-profit campaign in 2025? Reach out to our team and let’s get coffee!

Meet Heather Rodgers

Meet Heather Rodgers - Content Creator

Heather Rodgers is the newest member to the Transcend Ideas team! She will offer support with her design and copywriting skills. She shares a little about herself in this Q&A below.

Heather Rodgers Q & A

1. What are your favorite projects to work on and how do you want to grow professionally?

I would say my favorite projects all focus on helping small brands grow through my designs, especially when I have lots of creative freedom. I love using vibrant colors and organic elements in my designs. Branding and logo design are among my top favorites. Professionally, I want to grow by expanding my skill set. As a self-taught graphic designer, it’s incredibly exciting for me to keep learning and evolving in my craft.

2. Where do you pull inspiration from for creative work?

I am consistently inspired by nature and spending time in the mountains. There’s something about being outside that sparks my creativity. I also love checking out the work of other talented designers and artists. They really motivate me to keep pushing my own boundaries.

3. What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?

l’ve always wanted to learn how to surf, but I’ve never lived close to the ocean or anywhere good for surfing. Maybe one day soon, I’ll finally get to go to a surfing camp or something like that!

4. What small object in your house means the most to you and why?

I have two small paintings from my grandmother that mean the world to me. She’s an incredibly talented artist, and her work has always inspired me. I treasure these paintings and look at them every single day.

5. What advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand?

My advice is to really get to know your ideal audience. Make sure every image, graphic, and bit of copy you put out there resonates with how your target audience will perceive it. It’s easy to lose sight of your core message when you’re so close to it, which is why getting some outside support, like from a team like Transcend Ideas, can make a huge difference. They can help you nail down and communicate what makes your brand unique. And remember, consistency is key—keeping your branding clear and recognizable across the board will help your message stick.

Heather Rodgers Quote

6. How do you like to spend your free time?


I love spending my free time outdoors, with my boyfriend and pup, Zeus. We are always planning weekend adventures. 

7. Who keeps you inspired and why?


I’ve been fortunate to meet many creative and talented people throughout my life. My grandmother, as mentioned, is a huge inspiration to me. I also admire the work and entrepreneurship of many of my friends and family. I feel really lucky to connect with so many driven and amazing individuals.

8. What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?


One of my favorite life lessons is to trust the process. Not everything falls into place right away, and that’s okay. It’s important to stay patient and keep moving forward, even when things don’t go as planned.

Meet Heather Rodgers

9. What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?


I’m grateful for the opportunity to work creatively and for the support of my family and friends. I’m hopeful for continued growth, both personally and professionally, and to keep finding new opportunities that challenge and inspire me.

10. What are you proud of right now?


Right now, I’m proud of how much I’ve grown as a designer, especially being self-taught. I’ve been able to work on projects that I love and help small brands grow, which is really rewarding.

 


Would you like to work with Heather Rodgers? Reach out to our team to get in contact with Heather and discuss a future project for you! Find more of Heather’s work at her site https://kinddesignco.com and follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinddesignco_/.

Make Your Content Stand Out in 2024

Make Your Content Stand Out in 2024

The internet evolves at lightning speed. ⚡️

Trends from a decade ago are long forgotten, and even last year’s sensations have faded. With countless accounts competing for attention across numerous platforms, standing out in this saturated digital landscape demands a more strategic approach than ever before.

When looking at social media forecasts and predicted trends, it’s important to remember that anticipating future trends is always a challenge. For example, today I created a meme for a client based on Olympic pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik’s bronze medal-winning routine—a twist I never would have predicted last week.

However, we can do our best to observe where momentum is shifting. Staying ahead of trends and paying close attention to emerging patterns is crucial for success in content marketing. Effective content serves as a powerful tool for small businesses to build brand awareness, engage with customers, and drive sales. So, what might be in store for 2024?

A Few Ways to Make Your Content Stand Out in 2024:

Make your content stand out in 2024: 1. Videos are King 2. Embrace the Power of Authenticity 3. Optimize for short attention spans

1. Videos are King

 In the visual-centric world of social media, video content continues to reign supreme. Short-form videos, live streams, and interactive videos are all particularly effective at capturing audience attention.

Video content creation

2. Embrace the Power of Authenticity 

Audiences in 2024 crave genuine content that feels real and relatable. Don’t shy away from showing the human side of your brand. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, customer success stories, or even the occasional blooper to build trust and foster deeper connections.

3. Optimize for Short Attention Spans

 With the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, short-form content is more popular than ever. Get to the point quickly with a strong hook, break complex ideas into bite-sized chunks, and use visually appealing graphics. Apply this to written content too by breaking up blogs and newsletters into lists and highlighting key points.

Make Your Content Stand out in 2024: 4. Provide value-driven content 5. Leverage the power of storytelling 6. Experiment with interactive content

4. Provide Value-Driven Content

Your audience is looking for solutions to their problems. Focus on a strategy that educates your audience on industry-related topics, offers practical tips and actionable advice, and addresses common customer pain points.

5. Leverage the Power of Storytelling

 Humans are wired to respond to stories. Use narrative techniques to share your brand’s journey and values, highlight customer experiences and testimonials, and create emotional connections with your audience.

6. Experiment with Interactive Content 

Engage your audience by encouraging participation. Try incorporating polls, quizzes, user-generated content challenges, and live Q&A sessions or AMAs (Ask Me Anything) to boost engagement.

7. Diversify your content formats 8. Stay platform-savvy.

7. Diversify Your Content Formats 

While video may reign supreme, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Mix it up with engaging blog posts, eye-catching infographics, podcast episodes, and interactive webinars or workshops.

8. Stay Platform-Savvy

Each social media platform has its own quirks and best practices. For Instagram, focus on creating visually stunning Reels and Stories. On LinkedIn, share industry insights and thought leadership content. For TikTok, tap into trends and create entertaining, snackable content.

9. Embrace AI-Assisted creativity 10. Don't forget the basics

9. Embrace AI-Assisted Creativity 

While maintaining that human touch, consider using AI tools to generate ideas, optimize your posting schedule, and analyze performance data to refine your strategy.

10. Don’t Forget the Basics

 In the rush to stay trendy, remember these timeless principles: consistently post high-quality content, engage with your audience through comments and messages, and use relevant hashtags to increase discoverability.

Remember, the key to standing out in 2024 isn’t just about following trends—it’s about understanding your unique audience and delivering content that resonates with them. Keep experimenting, analyzing your results, and refining your approach. With persistence and creativity, your content will shine bright in the crowded digital landscape.

At Transcend Ideas, we’re passionate about helping brands create messaging that truly connects. Whether you’re looking to revamp your content strategy or need a fresh perspective on your brand’s voice, we’re here to help you transcend the ordinary and make your mark in 2024 and beyond.

Photo of hand holding smart phone with instagram profile over an orange background

Ready to elevate your content game? Let’s chat about how we can bring your brand’s unique story to life!