imageWhen was the last time your organisational image was reviewed?  It is not unusual for not for profit organisations to ignore this aspect in the belief that corporate image mainly relates to commercial organisations.  Of course that is wrong.

The importance of the image is that it directly impacts on how you present your organisation to the community and the general public who make the donations and support your organisation.  This is your public face and for most people, it’s how they first come to know you.  It has to tell the right story or you will not be able to connect with the very people you rely on for support.

The following points highlight some different areas of your image that should be reviewed.  These include:

  • Is your website up to date and reflecting current and accurate information?  There is nothing worse than having information that is out of date and no longer relevant.  Your website is a great way to promote your organisation as well as provide an opportunity for the community to engage with you.  As such, if it is kept up to date then people will access it and as a result engage with your organisation.
  • If you fundraise via your website ensure the details of any programs or projects that you want donations for are kept accurate and current.  In addition, ensure that accepting and processing online donations is easy to do and securely done.
  • Review any brochures, pamphlets and other printed materials to ensure the details such as the range of services, their availability and contact details are accurate.
  • If you have a logo ask yourself does it still accurately represent the values and purpose of your organisation.  One way to test this is to undertake a survey or seek feedback from people who use the services provided by the organisation.
  • If you use any form of social media to promote your organisation make sure there are clear guidelines that relate to the type of content and information that can be posted and discussed.

These are some of the main areas that the image of your organisation relates but the important issue is that you should review the image on a regular basis to make sure it still reflects the organisation.