A Foundation Launched by Local Business Leaders Provides First Responders with Extensive Support

CLIENT’S CHALLENGE

In 2016, a group of business leaders established a nonprofit to funnel aid and support to the men and women who serve as first responders. “Most people don’t realize,” explained one founder, “that while these professionals have a sizeable budget, there’s an awful lot it doesn’t cover – and these folks have to buy them for themselves. For example, we donated 3,000+ emergency first aid kits because these individuals are often first on-scene at shootings and are in a frontline position to save lives, if they have the right equipment.” 

In addition to supporting first responders, the nonprofit is also committed to other causes, like building bridges between city representatives and communities. Earlier in its existence, however, the group was better at delivering these “hundred acts of kindness” than it was at raising strategic awareness of its good works.  “We need to use our  track record to grow our membership,” one stakeholder said, ”and meet our mission of support.”

THE STRATEGIA SOLUTION

Strategia was engaged to help the organization begin to communicate with its constituencies – the first responders themselves, Chicago communities, active and potential donors and partners, and local media – with far greater efficiency and even more powerful impact, at a world-class level.  After conducting a top-down, bottom-up evaluation of the entire organization, the team submitted recommendations on streamlining the foundation’s processes across multiple domains, with a special emphasis on communications. Over several months, Strategia revamped the nonprofit’s website, built out the platform for a vibrant social media presence, and installed email marketing automation. Along the way, the team also developed a new tagline for the organization (“Helping our Heroes”) and facilitated board meetings, discussions, and decision-making.

IMPACTS + OUTCOMES

The organization is flourishing. Social media engagement continues to rise, fueled by Strategia’s posting of organic content several times weekly and management of the entity’s social media across multiple platforms. Constant media coverage raises awareness for each new donation, gift, or event the organization makes possible. To date, the group has raised over $7 million to support first responders – funds that have resulted in the delivery of new equipment (e.g., ATVs and a command van), the hosting of special events (e.g., youth programs and “Lunch on Us” for 16,000 first responder personnel), and donations to important causes (e.g., the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).