How can you raise money and awareness if few people outside the Board and the staff know what your organization does? A public relations strategy is often dismissed as a pointless frill but Monica Collins, communications expert, will speak about the myriad ways a media strategy can be a key investment. This seminar will address how well-placed story ideas, a targeted social media campaign, and... [read more]

How can you raise money and awareness if few people outside the Board and the staff know what your organization does? A public relations strategy is often dismissed as a pointless frill but Monica Collins, communications expert, will speak about the myriad ways a media strategy can be a key investment. This seminar will address how well-placed story ideas, a targeted social media campaign, and carefully crafted pitches to local and national press can result in welcome public attention and donor dollars. Takeaways: A practical plan for press relations and community outreach A reasoned approach to writing and telling the story straight without jargon and fog An explanation of how to bring outward communications inside the organization so outreach and transparency are intrinsic qualities of the organization, which wins regard from donors, the public and political establishment. Suggestions for how to deal with "crisis" communications when your organization does not want any press attention. Why a paper newsletter remains an important publication for your non-profit. Monica Collins' varied career has been spent for many years on staff at national and local newspapers. She currently appears on radio and syndicates a column nationally. While on the Board of the Women’s Lunch Place, a day shelter for women in downtown Boston, she helped devise the mission statement, logo and first communications plan. She is currently Board vice-president of the Ford Hall Forum, the nation’s oldest continuing free public lecture series. Monica Collins has helped clients with newsletters in which she designed and wrote the publications; she has pitched stories to national publications and has seen clients' stories picked up by The New York Times and USA Today; she has worked on mission statements, press releases and local news strategies.