Sometimes the best marketing and public relations tactics takes time, not money.
1) Give talks. Is someone in your organization an expert at something? Offer him/her up for free talks in your community or as an expert on local TV or radio talk shows.
2) Give thanks. Does you organization rely on volunteers or have board members that deserve accolades? Send thank you notices or interesting stories to their employers' communications departments and urge them to put something in the company newsletter or intranet. The bigger the employer, the better.
3) Give aways. Does your organization have anything of value? Memberships? Newsletter advertising? Products or services? Donate these types of bid-worthy items to a local charity auctions. And be sure to also develop a display to go along with the items so that everyone who attends will know all about your organization and its mission. (Even better if the auction is televised.) Door prize donations at business and community events can also be effective ways to tell the world about your organization.
4) Make friends. Is another nonprofit organization having an event or activity that gets a lot of attention each year? Align yourself with that organization by offering to provide help and support. The best partnerships are the ones where each organization adds value to the message you are trying to promote.
5) Make board members help. Do you have an event coming up and fear low attendance? Ask the board chair to require that all board members invite at least 10 friends, neighbors and family members to the event. Be sure and provide them with a flier they can print out to promote the event to the people they know. Now is the time of email address books -- so take advantage of the "network" that is available to you through your board members. You would be surprised to find out how many of them overlook this simple way to help your cause.
Source: http://nonprofitpr.com
