BCC & Associates

BCC Works with Brookings Institution on Global Cities Initiative

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:35:11 +0000

The Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program has expanded its relationship with BCC to launch and manage the Global Cities Initiative, a $10 million, five-year joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase. The project is aimed at helping leaders in metropolitan areas across the nation create more and better jobs by reorienting their economies towards greater engagement in world markets.

Launched this spring in Los Angeles, the new project is chaired by Richard M. Daley, former Mayor of Chicago and senior advisor to JPMorgan Chase.

BCC is providing communications guidance and project management support as the Global Cities Initiative travels to major cities, including Los Angeles, Columbus and Miami. Activities include developing communications and plans for each stop, crafting messages, producing media materials, conducting outreach to local press, arranging interviews with reporters, and serving as liaison to local stakeholders. For more information, visit Brookings.edu.

BCC Provides Counsel for Adkins Arboretum’s Capital Campaign

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:32:06 +0000

Brodie Collins Consulting has been selected to provide fundraising and communications counsel to Adkins Arboretum for its campaign to build a new visitors center and revitalize the surrounding landscape.

The project is part of the Arboretum’s Master Plan and is consistent with the goal of developing the Arboretum site as a model for land stewardship. Its mission is to foster community engagement and inspire the adoption of land stewardship practices for a healthier and more beautiful world.

Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve on Maryland’s Eastern Shore dedicated to promoting the appreciation and conservation of the region’s native plants. The Arboretum offers programs year-round in ecology, horticulture, and natural history for all ages. The site features over 600 species of native shrubs, trees, wildflowers, and grasses. Visit AdkinsArboretum.org for more information.

An Efficient Social Media Campaign – How much time should you spend tweeting, posting, and blogging?

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:02:36 +0000

If the year 2011 proved anything in the world of media and communications, it’s that contrary to popular belief, “The Revolution Will Be Tweeted.”

The emergence of Social Media as a global source of influence and news sharing among everyday citizens has every organization, business and, might we even say, revolution, jumping onboard these new, yet powerful channels of communication. A recent article posted by Fundly, one of the largest strategy platforms dedicated to online social giving, says it best –

“Through social media you can get your name out faster and with less financial investment than any other resource out there.”

While larger organizations are beefing up their Social Media presence with dedicated staff or third party vendors, smaller businesses and nonprofits just don’t have the manpower. This leaves many wondering how much time should really be spent investing in social media. Luckily, there are plenty of resources, ready at the click of a button, that showcase how any entity can successfully leverage the power of social media

In its 2011 Annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report, the Social Media Examiner analyzed marketing data from over 3,000 organizations, with surprising results. Small businesses and organizations are seeing the greatest results from investing in social media marketing! The important factor they have in common – remembering that Time Investment Pays Dividends. The 2011 study proved that time is a key success factor for social media marketers, no matter the type of organization. The old ideal of “work smarter, not harder” applies, no matter the scope or social network you utilize. Spend more time (wisely, of course) and you’re likely to see greater results.

So the question remains, how much time is required? This can be answered in three ways:

1.) The power of endurance – those entities with 3 or more years of experience in social media marketing are the ones seeing the greatest results. For example, only 25% of those just getting started in social media saw new partnerships form, as compared to 80% or more of those with 3 or more years of experience. So marketers shouldn’t make snap judgments on the value of social media after only a few months. Give it some time!

2.) It doesn’t have to be all-consuming. It may not take as much time as you fear. In fact, 75% of those spending as little as 6 hours per week on social media marketing saw increased traffic.

Likewise, those who spend at least 6 hours per week are almost twice as likely to see leads generated as those who spend 5 or fewer hours. While the study didn’t draw any firm conclusions on how much time marketers should spend, there’s clear evidence that those who commit at least 6 hours per week will see significant rewards for their investment.

This is especially true for content development. According to data analysis by Fundly, the speed of social media is remarkably fast. You can post or tweet a comment in the morning and by afternoon, you could scroll down four pages before you come across it again. The average lifespan of a tweet is 2.8 hours and of a Facebook post is 3.2 hours. With such a fast paced medium, the best way to use this resource is in short bursts. Don’t spend hours constructing and reading messages that are just a flash in the pan. Create a well constructed updated announcement, post it, and move on.

3.) Last – remember, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Valuable time spent on social media marketing should also be allocated to the most effective tools. Social media is a rapid, ever-evolving industry, so it’s easy for marketers to become enamored by the newest tools. However, the industry study showed that almost all marketers have four tools in their toolkit: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs. Smaller organizations should stick with tried and true forms of social media, allowing other organizations to test the weight and worth of newer mediums.

More information can be found at the following:

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/small-businesses-benefit-most-from-social

-media-study-reveals/

http://blog.fundly.com/2012/05/02/training-your-staff-to-effectively-use-social-media-part-ii/

The #1 Reason Why Your Nonprofit NEEDS to be on Facebook

BCC Admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:08:51 +0000

Nielsen, the company we most often associate with the ratings for our favorite TV shows, also does some fantastic research in other types of media. Case in point is their latest blockbuster release: “State of the Media: The Social Media Report.” In it are some fascinating facts and statistics including:

53% of social network users follow brands (which includes nonprofits)
Social network users are more likely than other online consumers to be found at political rallies
Women watch more videos, men watch longer videos
Social media and blogs continue to dominate our online time as consumers, on our computers AND phones

Add to those statistics, Pew’s recent research:

65% of adult internet users now say they use a social networking site daily

And you have the numbers that should make you assess and then re-assess your social media strategies.

Quickly:

Step 1: Do you have a social media presence? On which platforms?

Step 2: Do you have social media policies in place?

Step 3: Do you have a social media strategy? How detailed is it? (i.e. ‘have I tweeted today?’ vs. ‘What message is our organization working on today?’)

However the most important takeaway from Nielsen’s data is this graph here:

That 140,336 is for a single month alone in 2011 (specifically, May of 2011); and 140,336 is actually short for 140,336,000. That’s 140 million unique visitors for the month of May.

So if 65% of the adult population goes online everyday, and 140 million of them are checking their Facebook pages, it would probably be a good idea to make sure that your nonprofit has:

a presence on Facebook
a social media strategy in mind
interesting content to keep your fan count growing and to make sure your followers keep coming back.

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What do you think? Are you finding Facebook a helpful tool for your organization?

Are there other tools that you prefer to use in addition or instead?

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For more information on how your nonprofit should use new media, contact us at 301-664-9000

Follow @fornonprofits

Holy Cross Hospital Foundation Selects BCC for Campaign Counsel

BCC Admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:18:38 +0000

Brodie Collins Consulting is pleased to announce that it has been selected to provide fundraising counsel to Holy Cross Hospital Foundation.Holy Cross Hospital is constructing a new $202 million hospital on the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College with an innovative workforce partnership with the College. The five-story facility includes 93 beds for medical, surgical, obstetric and psychiatric services and an 8-bed special care nursery. It will be the first acute care hospital in Montgomery County in 35 years. Preliminary plans call for an opening in 2014.

Holy Cross Hospital also is expanding its current facility in Silver Spring, MD. Plans include a new seven-story tower which will allow Holy Cross Hospital to offer private rooms to all its patients.

For more information, please visit holycrosshealth.org.

BCC Garners Extensive Media Coverage for Brookings Institution Report

BCC Admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:48:02 +0000

BCC Garners Extensive Media Coverage for Release of Brookings Institution Major Report

Bethesda, MD – BCC developed and implemented a regional media outreach plan for a major report released on July 13^th by the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program which garnered coverage in print and electronic outlets around the country.

“Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment” assesses the size and growth of the nation’s clean/green economy and provides detailed new data on the quantity and types of jobs being produced by this sector. The report also ranks all 50 states and the 100 largest metro areas for the size of their clean economy.

The story was picked up by many of the largest newspapers in the country, including the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Newsday, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Detroit News. Most of the Business Journals also ran the story. Many smaller and medium sized market papers did stories as well, including the Hartford Courant, Charlotte Observer, Nashua Telegraph, El Paso Times, Wisconsin State Journal, and the Austin American-Statesman. These stories were comprehensive and in-depth and included photos and graphics.

For more information on the report, visit http://www.brookings.edu/metro/clean_jobs.aspx.

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BCC is a full-service consulting firm specializing in campaigns, communications and constituency building. We work with museums, private schools, advocacy organizations, universities and other non-profits throughout the Washington area, the mid-Atlantic region and internationally. For more information about the company, visit www.bcc-associates.com.

Communications Analysis Made Easy!

BCC Admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:13:35 +0000

Follow @ForNonProfits

America’s Getting Older: What Are We Going to Do About it? (Besides Exercise!)

BCC Admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:11:13 +0000

I read the other day that there are over 100 million Americans 50 years and older. What does this mean for fundraisers?

I think at least three things:

First, these people are entering their prime earning years, present economic conditions notwithstanding. As such, non-profits should look closely at these constituents for those with exceptional earning power, keeping in mind that many of these baby boomers will be recipients of bequests and trusts from their parents which is the so-called “inter generational transfer of wealth” going on right now in our country. Involving them now in your cause could mean sizable gifts 10 to 20 years down the road. It’s time to get to know these people!

“Involving [baby boomers] now in your cause could mean sizable gifts 10 to 20 years down the road.”

Second, the 50+ crowd will be the leaders of non-profits for years to come, as those of the WWII generation retire from positions of power they have held in non-profit organizations. Non-profits should begin stocking their boards with these people, as their positions and experience can help in many ways.

“The 50+ crowd will be the leaders of non-profits for years to come…”

Third, age 50 is a time when many people begin to think about estate planning. Turning 50 is a watershed event: you begin to think about how to protect your family in times of crisis, what is most important to you, what charities you care about most. And questions begin to arise: should I make a will? (the majority of American this age do not have one!), what about life insurance? annuities? service opportunities? Non-profits should look at their files for 50+ donors who have been with them for a long time, then work to educate them about the importance of estate planning.

There are many opportunities to put this crowd to work for your cause. Make a plan and get going!

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Michael J. Brodie has over 30 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in the US and abroad and directs the firm’s fundraising practice area. He works with clients to develop strategic fundraising plans, create case statements, conduct feasibility studies and provide on-going counsel for capital and endowment campaigns. He is also experienced in planned giving, major gift fundraising and organizational development to achieve maximum fundraising results.

For more about Michael, click here.

Follow @ForNonProfits

Communications Analysis Made Easy!

BCC Admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:45:08 +0000

Potomac Riverkeeper Turns to BCC for Fundraising Guidance

BCC Admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:52:26 +0000

Potomac Riverkeeper Turns to BCC for Fundraising Guidance

BETHESDA, MD – Potomac Riverkeeper has hired Brodie Collins Consulting (BCC) to help develop its major donor program.

Potomac Riverkeeper is a nonprofit group whose mission is to stop pollution and to restore clean water in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and tributaries through enforcement and community engagement. The group is made up of friends, neighbors, and families who want safe drinking water and the ability to fish and swim in the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. These rivers, and the smaller streams and runs that feed them, make up the water supply for almost all of the six million people living in four states and the District of Columbia.

Brodie Collins Consulting is a full-service consulting firm specializing in campaigns, communications and constituency building for U.S. and international non-profit organizations. For more information, visit www.bcc-associates.com.