Kristi Porter

November 11, 2020

Email Marketing, Events, Holidays, Launches, Marketing, Nonprofit, Small Business, Social Enterprise, Social Media, Websites

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Marketing Resources for Social Enterprises

Kristi Porter

November 11, 2020

Email Marketing, Events, Holidays, Launches, Marketing, Nonprofit, Small Business, Social Enterprise, Social Media, Websites

Last month, we covered #GivingTuesday resources for nonprofits, so this month I thought we’d tackle Black Friday and Cyber Monday marketing resources for social enterprises. Not only that, I wanted to also make sure we gave a proper and well-deserved shoutout to Small Business Saturday.

Even through it’s been trending that way for many years, 2020 will certainly shift in favor of online shopping due to the pandemic.

As a social enterprise leader, you are already aware that consumers are on the hunt for more social impact products, but I think this year’s spotlight on the election as well as racial injustice has really fueled the desire for people to understand how they can make a bigger difference each and every day. Your socially conscious products are certainly a part of that, and by supporting you, people can feel good about where they spend their money.

We just have to make sure they can find you online (or in person)! So, here are some marketing resources that can not only boost your presence, but help your social enterprise increase sales this holiday season.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Marketing Resources for Social Enterprises and Social Impact Companies

Feel like you’re too late to get into the game this year?

Some of the resources below may help provide you with some quick and easy ideas, but even if they don’t, you can still plan to at least push gift cards as an alternative!

Gift cards are an easy marketing message to communicate, contribute to your bottom line, and allow people to support your mission.

Here's How to Promote Your Social Impact Products

GENERAL MARKETING AND AWARENESS RESOURCES FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

Besides the holiday season, there are plenty of things you can do year-round to spread the word about all the good that you’re doing.

Apply to have your products listed on the DoneGood website, which features a large variety of social impact brands.
Hive’s goal is to “Reimagine retail. For good.” and may remind you a little of Thrive Market—without the membership fees. You can also apply to partner with them.
Interested in catering to the business crowd? Gifts for Good specifically targets corporates gifts, and is looking for partners.
Find online directories like my friend LeeAnne’s Change the World By How You Shop or The Honest Consumer to get your company listed on ethical purchasing sites. Every link helps build your reputation and increase your awareness. It may take some leg work to find websites like this, but the more people that know about you, the better, right? This could also be a strategy you implement during your slower months when you have more time on your hands.
Pitch yourself to podcasts like my friend Molly’s Business With Purpose podcast, which focuses on generous individuals and social impact companies. You can even catch yours truly on episode 96.
GoodCarts was launched specifically to help social enterprises in the e-commerce space. And it’s easy and fast to get started!
Though this post is technically talking about Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I’m including it here because what The Good suggests is terrific information for optimizing your website, but it’ll be really time-intensive. So, maybe put this on your 2021 to-do list.
I’ve learned most of what I know about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) from Meg at Love at First Search, and I highly suggest checking out these two posts: 6 Tips to Get Your E-commerce Product Page to Show Up on Google and Want to Boost Search Traffic? Set Up Google My Business. By the way, I’m also an affiliate for Meg’s Attract and Activate SEO course. I’ve taken it myself, and she is a terrific (and patient) teacher!
Your website is more important than ever, so to get it in the best shape possible, check out my Ultimate Guide to Social Impact Websites.

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY MARKETING RESOURCES

Now merged into one days-long holiday, Black Friday/Cyber Monday (or BFCM as it’s becoming known), is the Super Bowl of retail. Here’s how you can get a piece of the action.

Contact BlackFriday.com and GottaDeal.com and get your deal listed.
Shopify has a ton of resources for your Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday extravaganza, including 27-point checklist to keep you on task.
It’s no surprise that Square has some advice for you, and I particularly like #2 that says to reward existing customers.
Wondering what mistakes to avoid in your marketing and communications? AppSumo wants to tell you about five things they learned in 2019.
Yotpo has outlined their trends for 2020’s Black Friday, and I particularly recommend reading their advice on advertising and making meaningful connections.
Paypal put together an entire webinar that you can re-watch for Black Friday and Cyber Monday info. You’ve probably seen options similar to their “Pay in 4” selection pop up on websites already, and I think that trend will continue to grow.
Mailchimp has their own list checklist for planning your promotions, and tells you how to use their services for maximum impact.
Planoly gives some great suggestions on not only what you need to do to prep for BFCM, but also conveniently put them into a timeline for you!
Check out #2 and #6 from eDesk on their social media specific recommendations for making the most of BFCM.
There is some great technical advice in this post from Ai Trillion, including making your return policy clear and creating a welcome email sequence.
Take a look at #6-8 on Sumo’s list of “Better Cyber Monday Emails” and see if one of these options could work for you. (It takes some list segmenting!)
Feeling overwhelmed yet? Take a look at #2-4 in this post by New Relic to help put you at ease and keep you focused for a tight timeframe.

Get Dozens of Launch Marketing Ideas

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY MARKETING RESOURCES

Though it’s only been around since 2010, I love the support that Small Business Saturday has garnered, and applaud American Express for being one of its founders. This year, it’s more important than ever to support small businesses, and I hope people turn out in record number for you!

The American Express website gives you the ability to add your small business to their directory and also download promotional resources.
Vivial put together a list of 11 Small Business Saturday Promotions Made Easy, several of which take minimum time and effort. I especially like #2, the idea of partnering with others, and that can be as simple as sending an email to each other’s lists.
Though this article from Entrepreneur is from 2017, before COVID-19 was part of our daily vocabulary, it has some pretty timeless advice. I’d like to point out #6, “Don’t compete with the Big Boxes.” Stick with what makes you spectacular, and that doesn’t always come down to the price.
SmartBiz made a smart move by giving you guidance on how to follow-up with your customers after Small Business Saturday. “Thank you” goes a long way!
Square wants to remind you to showcase where your products are sourced from, since that is increasingly important to consumers.
Not that you forget we’re in the middle of a pandemic, but Marlin reminds you to offer contactless pickup and delivery to make your customers feel safe and remove any excuses of buying from you.
There is some great info in this post by When I Work, but I really like the second category about how to make decisions easier for shoppers.
Some of this advice from Local IQ is repeated above, but if you want more specific examples, take a look at these 40 Easy Small Business Saturday Marketing Ideas to Stand Out from the Crowd. I like the idea of bundling products for a discount.

By the way, did you notice that a lot of resources suggest partnering with a nonprofit to increase visibility and goodwill? High fives that you already have a built-in cause component!

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER BUSINESSES (AND TEMPLATES, TOO!)

Need some inspiration? Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Keap put together five case studies for Small Business Saturday as well as ideas for how to track what promotional efforts worked.
I found numerous city, district, and Chamber of Commerce websites promoting their local brick-and-mortar businesses for Small Business Saturday, so if yours doesn’t have something like that, gather your fellow business and city leaders to create one for the future! This is a nice Detroit example.
What’s better than examples? Free visuals and templates. Printful has you covered.
Honeycomb Credit has a social media kit with templates that you can download for free.
Mailerlite now only has examples for you, but tells you exactly what emails you should be sending for Black Friday.
SendGrid has some additional email marketing examples for both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, including from favorites like Patagonia and REI.
Do you use text messaging in your campaigns? Postscript has both data and SMS examples for you to view.
Need to skip 2020 and focus on 2021? I hear ya. OptinMonster will give you a timeline and examples so that you can take it slow and prep for next year.
Here are 18 creative ideas from Oberlo with examples that companies of all kinds can try now or later.
Wondering about the best Black Friday email campaigns of all time? SmartrMail has put together their own list. Do you agree?

Anything to add? Include it in the comments so we can learn from each other!

Racial Justice Resources for Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

Kristi Porter

June 24, 2020

Nonprofit, Personal Development, Social Enterprise, Small Business, Strong Foundation

As a leader of a nonprofit or social enterprise, some form of justice is already at the heart of your work. You’re fighting for a cause because it’s worthy of your attention and your voice. It’s true, it’s right, it’s just.

So, if you aren’t already involved in the conversation regarding racial justice, now is the time to join in—no matter what issues you’re already working on. Racism is a virus, and each of us is susceptible.

You’ve, of course, seen overt and horrific examples played out on a national stage, but the real work—the hard work—begins in ourselves, our homes, and the places we work.

Implicit bias, microaggressions, off-hand comments, inappropriate jokes, favoritism, and more happen in small ways on a daily basis, sometimes without a second thought. It’s time to address our failings head-on and on-purpose, with the same amount of passion you already apply to your current work.

Even as a cause-focused organization, it’s possible that you may need some assistance in this area. We can all lose perspective when it comes to our own work, and even ourselves. You likely don’t consider yourself a racist, but have you considered becoming an anti-racist?

As an advocate for justice, inequality is your adversary. And it’s time to pick a fight.

Whether you are still trying to understand why “Black Lives Matter” or you are trying to figure out how your nonprofit or social impact company should respond at this critical time in history, here are some tools and resources to equip you on this journey.

I’ve also asked a few friends for their thoughts, because they are all incredibly smart, have a vital perspective, and are people you should know.

Racial Justice Resources for Nonprofits, Social Enterprises, and Small Businesses

Understanding the Issues of Racial Inequality and Systemic Racism

If this is a topic that you feel largely ill-equipped to tackle, take the first steps to listen and learn before you speak. Let’s start by getting on the same page.

Understand what terms like systemic racism, white privilege, white fragility, and microaggression mean, so that you can speak from an informed and allied perspective.
Merriam-Webster is redefining what “racism” really means.
Here’s a great explanation on why being color-blind is actually a bad thing, despite any good intentions.
The Skimm created an easy-to-understand guide on why mass incarceration is such a big deal here in the US, an overview of systemic racism, and what it means to defund the police.
Get an overview of how slavery transformed America through this audio series from The New York Times.
Equity and equality aren’t the same thing, and this post gives 20 reasons why.
Heard “BIPOC,” but not sure what it means? Read this explanation to understand where the acronym for Black, Indigenous, People of Color came from.
Learn more about the term “anti-racist” from the guy who literally wrote the book on it.
Still saying “all lives matter”? Here’s a great explanation on why black lives matter or you can read more about BLM on their website.
This Anti-Racism Resource Guide includes definitions, getting started resources, and next steps for those just starting this journey.
Critical Race Theory has received a lot of attention but may not always be used correctly. Read up to make sure you understand what it is—and what it isn’t.

Begin within

As the leader (or a leader) of your nonprofit or social impact company, the work begins with you. No matter what policies or changes you implement, trainings you conduct, or resources you make available to your team, the majority of the work has to be done in the heart’s of your people, starting with you. Set the example you’d want to follow.

This short and simple “Guide to Allyship” is a great place to start as you begin to think what these topics will mean to you personally and professionally.
There are a number of common phrases that have racist roots you should be aware of, so that you can remove them from your vocabulary. And here are five more, a couple of which caught me completely off guard.
If you work internationally, take a look at this article, which makes the case for addressing racism here at home.
The National Museum of African American History & Culture has created some tools to use for yourself and others when talking about race, including the exploration of bias.
Ladies, check out The White Shift, which exists to “connect and activate a community of white presenting women to do the personal work it takes to uproot racism and build power for Black and Brown communities.”
This creative “Justice in June” plan allows you to take bite-sized actions toward becoming an ally for the African American community, and can be utilized any month you’re ready to get started.
Here is an extensive resource list by Tasha K, sorted by categories and topics for both personal and professional use.
Get in the fight, but protect your mental health. This is hard internal work, but it takes a toll, even for the biggest of allies. Injustice needs you at your best.

“Racism and racial injustice, at their core, are issues of dehumanization. Before engaging in racial justice, it's essential for those in the White community to expose the implicit bias and dehumanizing sentiment they may have in their hearts. Otherwise, we are just putting a Band-Aid on the problem.”

- Bradley Tomlinson, Director of Content Strategy at Orchard

Improving Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

You and your team spend so many hours of your lives working, and everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, welcomed, and safe at your nonprofit or social enterprise.

resources for the executive team

In this article on the Triple Pundit, Cecily Joseph outlines a simple “blueprint for action on racial equity.”
This is a great article on “How Companies Without Racists Perpetuate Racism,” which is written by Kafi Payne, who is a HR Director. Many companies will relate to her words.
CEOs should speak out, but they should begin by making progress in their own boardrooms first.
If you work in sustainability, read this advice from one of your own.
JUST Capital outlines a few practices that social impact companies can take to combat systemic racism and provide a safe and supportive work environment for Black employees.
The Stanford Social Innovation Review put together a list for change-makers who want to put an end to racism.
The Female Founders Fund put together an incredible anti-racist resource list for the tech and VC community.
Vivienne Dovi has laid out some excellent advice for what you can do after you declare that #BlackLivesMatter, including some low-cost and no-cost options for your small business.
Use your position as an opportunity to mentor someone early in their career through an organization like Year Up.
Racial Equity Tools has an extensive resource list for advocating for racial equity and social justice during COVID-19.
While created with the nonprofit community in mind, The Communications Network has amassed an impressive and crowd-sourced resource list on this topic, including creating your language and narrative, management and operations advice, action steps, and much more.
Consider providing bereavement leave to Black employees.
Creating budgets for professional development allows marginalized communities to take advantage of new experiences that might not otherwise be open to them.
Here’s a list of 50 ideas for incorporating diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Project Inkblot can educate you on how to design your products and services with diversity in mind.
While professionalism can be a great thing in a workplace, it’s good to evaluate your practices to ensure they are non-biased.
Here are 10 tips for becoming an ally to the Black women in your company.
The extensive resource list by Teach.com includes racial equity toolkits for government agencies.
Did you know racial inequality even affects your team’s sleep? Here’s an eye-opening guide on The Sleep Gap.
This article cites “42% of U.S. employees have witnessed or experienced racism in the workplace.” However, they also give you seven ways to fight racism at work so you can do your part.

“The workplace has a unique influence on each of our lives, and has huge potential to help us grow as teams and individuals - just as much as it has the potential to limit behaviors and possibilities. In this moment, we're seeing a societal awakening to realities that have been all too common for far too long, so its imperative for leaders to reconsider what's normal and reset their expectations for themselves and their teams, to truly realize the power of diversity and a thriving economy.”

- Lauren Dawson, Senior Program Manager, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at LinkedIn

Hiring and Human Resources

Listen to The Diversity Gap podcast where Bethany Wilkinson shares “stories of the people most impacted by diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.”
We Are Rosie created a document that shows you how to find diverse talent in the advertising industry.
Evaluate your hiring and firing policies for how employees may act away from the office.
Learn how to champion diversity, inclusion, and racial equity at your nonprofit or social impact company.
Have an open position? Post it on ColorComm, which reaches women of color in communications.
Here’s how Buffer focuses on D&I, even when they’re not growing their team.
Some job candidates are screened because of their names or racial indicators on their resume, which again stresses the need to check our own implicit bias before bringing that prejudice into the workplace.
Avoid this mistake when it comes to diversity and inclusion in your workplace, and also receive some terrific advice for your small business.
Here is a very candid essay on one Black woman’s hiring experience. I urge you to read it with openness, and examine if any of your own hiring practices reflect her account.

“Human Resources plays an important role in creating people and culture strategies that support business success and the employee experience. In this time of racial unrest, HR is being called upon to create safe spaces where brave and inclusive conversations can occur. At ESPN, the diversity and inclusion team and employee resource groups have hosted numerous conversations that give employees the opportunity to share the pain of racial and social injustice in the United States and their hope for a better future. Our employees have also shared ways in which our company can be better in creating a more inclusive culture. These conversations are vital, and I am so proud that we have a culture where employees speak up and leaders listen and support. I hope HR practitioners across organizations are creating these safe spaces for their employees, listening, and committing to the change we all want to see.”

- Dr. Tonya Harris Cornileus, Vice President, Development, Inclusion & Wellness, ESPN

Marketing and Communications

Examine your marketing and advertising to understand what you might be unconsciously communicating or what stereotypes you might be perpetuating.
Take a look at these social media accounts to follow so that you can ensure your social listening is coming from a variety of voices. (Here’s another list.)
Use culturally-diverse photos so that all of your fans, followers, and customers can see themselves in your brand. (More options here.)
The Associated Press has officially decided to capitalize Black and Indigenous with regards to racial and ethnic groups.
Working with influencers? “Our Shades of Influence” can help you diversify there, too.
Diversity Best Practices has compiled resources for cultural and heritage holidays.
Black Illustrations has “hundreds of diverse images for your online projects” in over 10 categories.
When supporting causes like this online, you’ll also want to make sure you and your accounts are safe online. Here are nine tips.

“It is critically important to me that my customers and their children see themselves in my brand. Not simply on a physical level, but more importantly, on a level of relatable cultural discoveries. My desire is for Aboki Box to be a direct channel to grow cultural IQ, so that children learn about a group of people and develop stronger sensitivity to cultural diversity. It’s important to me that my brand, in some way, empowers our leaders of tomorrow to educate, celebrate, and recognize our diversity. This will make us stronger, as individuals and as global citizens, so that we can make a difference in the communities in which we live.”

- Angela Halan, founder of Aboki Box

Leading a Team

Host a watch party or book club to get everyone involved and participating. Esquire put together a list of 10 movies to start with, while TED has you covered with inspiring talks, and The Good Trade has a list of 21 recommended books. Better yet, why not let your team vote on their preference to keep engagement high?
If you are White, pass the mic to a BIPOC, elevating their voice on the team and showcasing their authority on a topic they already understand better than you do. Just be sure that 1) this isn’t the only time they get the mic, and 2) they have the emotional bandwidth to lead at this time.
Allow employees time to reflect or protest. And provide them with this guide on how to stay safe while protesting.
Instead of just “checking in” on your Black team members, take this time as an opportunity to do three things.

“Leaders should first develop a process for collecting ideas and feedback that gives every team member a voice. Whether it be a survey or poll about new initiative, or an official structure for brainstorm meetings, build processes and systems that include everyone. Second, change your hiring process to expand the diversity of candidates. Require two or three online applicants for every candidate referred by an employee. Require each job opening be posted on jobs of HBCUs and other institutions or trade organizations with predominantly non-White constituents. This also should be done to attract candidates of various genders and ages (I.e generations).

Ultimately, you can’t benefit from other perspectives if you don’t have access to them and you don’t ask for them.”

- Kevin Jennings, CEO of KBJ2 Consulting

Trainings and Facilitated Discussions

Latasha Morrison provides cultural competency trainings, consultations, and coaching to nonprofits and companies so that they can become a more authentically-diverse organization.
The Islamic Speakers Bureau provides cultural competency training for law enforcement and healthcare workers.
KHL & Associates offers both diversity and inclusion training, as well as executive search services.
Here is a toolkit full of activities, resources, writings, and prompts to lead your team through understanding and dismantling any bias in the workplace.
Honeybook has a list of multiple anti-racism trainings for yourself or your team.
Diversity Resources has numerous trainings, videos, resources, and events available to you.
Prism has a wide variety of trainings, including those for talent management, discrimination, harassment, and unconscious bias.
Starbucks has opened up its “To Be Welcoming” series everyone, and the first one focuses on bias and empathy.

Networking and Events

Spectrum’s LinkedIn Group is “a community of multicultural changemakers creating an inclusive impact economy.”
NODA’s Multicultural Network provides you with opportunities to connect, share, learn, and grow alongside other professionals.
The Diversity Gap hosted “A New Kind of Leader” in the spring of 2020, and you can watch it online.
If you consider yourself part of the creative community, check out ADCOLOR for upcoming events.
Entelo put together a list of diversity and inclusion conferences.
Planning an online or future in-person event? Here are five ways to make it more diverse.
Have you considered creating event scholarships for those who might not otherwise be able to attend?
You can watch the Allyship & Action conference on YouTube for free.
The Anti-Defamation League wrote this list of Do’s and Don’ts for Diversity and Inclusion events for schools, but the rules are intuitive enough to use anywhere.
The National Diversity Council has bunch of upcoming events in 2020.
Be Social Change is hosting an Anti-Racist Business Virtual Summit on September 17th.

Work Culture

If you tend to think that racism doesn’t exist in social justice organizations, think again. “Doing Good and Being Racist” sheds light on one woman’s experience at the UN, but this experience could happen in many other places as well.
Here’s a guide on how to build a race equity culture at your nonprofit or social impact company.
Is your organization practicing what it preaches when it comes to fighting racism and bias? Here are some action steps for discernment.
This CNBC article sheds some light on what it looks like to be an anti-racist company, including one way to get employees involved. (And here’s an assessment tool.)
Several Black employees shared their experiences about working in corporate America.
As a POC or ally, here are a few ideas for addressing injustice at work.

“During the latest #BlackLivesMatter movement, we have seen a lot of organizations scramble to release statements and programs externally, without first listening to their employees, especially their employees of color, about how they feel about social injustice in 2020. Especially when your workforce is remote or distributed, a culture of inclusion becomes even more important so that all of your employees are engaged. Then, during times of adversity, engaged employees will make it so that your company is better prepared to respond to social issues with empathy and transparency.”

- Kaleem Clarkson, Co-founder of Blend Me and Remotely One

Give Your Time, Talent, and Treasure (and Get Your Team Involved!)

The Renewal Project curated a list of nonprofits building racial equity, fighting racial justice in the legal system, and elevating the next generation of Black leaders.
Black Lives Matter put together a simple list of action steps you and your organization can take in minutes.
Create a resource, event, or fund that supports Black-owned business owners, especially those in early stages.
Unsure where to give and make the most impact? This Money.com article has some great advice and action steps.
Donations are great, but partnering with a nonprofit and having your team volunteer will be more meaningful in the long-term.

“As Derek Sivers very clearly mentions in his TED talk, How to Start a Movement, ‘Leadership is over-glorified. It is really the first followers that transform a lone nut into a leader.’ At Vector, we understand that the only way to be truly authentic and fully committed to our culture and values is to listen, learn, and accept daily feedback from everyone in our company. Be accountable, brutally honest, and expect the same from everyone else—no matter how senior or junior anyone is.

Change moves at the speed of trust. So, unless everyone is engaged and intimately involved in all big initiatives and/or decisions, the depth of our relationship as a team will not be where it needs to be to trust each other and make such a unique, results-based work culture.

We are all in this together, and the main reason everyone is okay in doubling down on our culture is because we openly share every aspect of our company, from salaries to personal challenges, from cash flow statements to profitability, from investments to setbacks. More importantly, trusting each other has allowed us to be OK making mistakes and this is probably one of the key reasons we will continue to grow and succeed in such a demanding industry like logistics.”

- Enrique Alvarez, Managing Director at Vector Global Logistics

Examples in Action

Need some inspiration for how your company can positively and thoughtfully respond to this issue?

Read how The Center for Health Progress made racial equity a priority for their all White staff and board.
Sephora is donating 15% of its shelf space to Black-owned businesses.
United Auto Workers organized “peaceful and orderly stand downs” on Juneteenth. While we can all agree an organization’s efforts need to go beyond a moment of silence, statement, or social media post, this is one way all employees can participate and helps them see the company’s priorities in action.
Ben & Jerry’s has a long history of putting their money where their mouth is, and they are a great example of how any type of brand can get involved in issues they care about.
National Geographic first acknowledged their coverage was racist, and then they did something about it.
There is a big push to make Juneteenth a national holiday, but Target made the decision on its own.
The Communications Network has put together multiple examples of responses from nonprofits and foundations (that anyone can learn from), and they’ve discussed why they’re effective and provided links for deeper learning.
Learn from these companies who took a stand, but didn’t immediately follow it up with action.
Buffer posted their guidelines for event planning, speaking, and sponsorships to both convey their internal policies as well as serve as an example to others.
The President and CEO of Living Cities explained the racial injustice he found in his own nonprofit, and steps they are taking to rectify it.

Consider Your Business Relationships

Who do you do business with? How do your partners model diversity, inclusion, and racial justice? Do you engage vendors and partners that are BIPOC-owned?

Support Black-owned businesses
- The Strategist put together a list of “125 Black-Owned Businesses to Support.”
- Check out the Official Black Wall Street, the largest platform for Black businesses.
- Black Wallet is a digital resource for Black entrepreneurs and their businesses.
- We Buy Black is an online retail space with all kinds of products.
- The Female Founder Collective created a list of woman-owned Black businesses.
- Cause Artists highlighted 20 African Americans leading the way in social innovation and impact.
- Here are hundreds of businesses run by Black women.
Here’s a directory of Latinx designers for all your creative needs.
Partner with other organizations who share your values. Here’s a huge list of companies who have made a public stand. This list includes mostly donations, so double-check their actions across the board.

”Our world has become a village with clients, future employees, and business partners across the globe. For organizations to be successful in providing solutions to their customers, they need to know what their diverse customers and clients' needs are, the market itself, and so much more. Similarly, to gain a competitive edge, these same organizations must compete for talent. However, getting talent in the door is not good enough. Organizations have to support a variety of cultures, which invites talent to be their best. Therefore, creating diverse partnerships provides organizations with many benefits, including tapping into their customer’s needs, getting the best talent, and making a name for themselves in the marketplace.”

- Soumaya Khalifa, Cross Cultural and Diversity and Inclusion Consultant and President of Khalifa Consulting

Racial EquITY Resources Specifically for Nonprofits

Because we focus specifically on nonprofits a lot around here, I wanted to make sure there was a special category for these beloved organizations.

The Communications Network has been cranking out a lot of live trainings and webinars around equity, racial justice, racial violence, racism, and more. Get on their list to see what’s coming next.
Nonprofit employees of color are still often at a disadvantage when compared to their White co-workers, and this report can help you gain a better understanding of what is happening in your sector.
The Harvard Business Review published a great article on “The Problem with ‘Color-Blind’ Philanthropy” and how it can be corrected.
Listen in on this conversation between Michele Norris, founder of The Race Card Project™, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, and Jeff Raikes, Co-Founder of the Raikes Foundation and former Microsoft Business Division President, as they discuss why philanthropy has to talk about race, as well as the term “color-blind.”
Here’s a webinar on responding to racial injustice as a nonprofit.
Equity in the Center has a great resource for creating a “race equity culture” within nonprofits and philanthropic institutions, and includes how to bring in multiple stakeholders.
Get your board on board with supporting leaders of color. This article from the Nonprofit Quarterly lays out some terrific action steps.

Resources Specifically for Faith-Based Organizations

As a person of faith who works with a lot of Christian ministries, I wanted to include this special category for those seeking racial reconciliation through the lens of their spirituality.

The team at Be the Bridge has created all sorts of fantastic resources, including topics dealing with white privilege, implicit bias, and racial injustice. The founder, Latasha Morrison, also wrote, Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation, which is a bestseller.
Barna has put together 10 data-driven resources for talking to your church about race, as well as a “Where Do We Go From Here?” digital download (currently free).
Daughters of Abraham is an interfaith book club where Christian, Jewish, and Muslim women can learn from one another and safely discuss their similarities and differences.
The Anti-Defamation League has a long history of fighting injustice, and you’ll find a lot of resources on their website.
The Islamic Speakers Bureau conducts interactive presentations designed to provide information about Islam and Muslims, answer questions, and cultivate relationships.
The Lausanne Movement put together a few articles, videos, and even a devotional plan for working toward racial justice.

Did I miss something that should be included? Let me know!

Like This Post? You'll Like the Next One, Too.

COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits and Social Impact Companies

Kristi Porter

March 25, 2020

Marketing, Nonprofit, Small Business, Social Enterprise

There’s no question about it: Our world has changed. As we grapple with the reality of COVID-19, we are all struggling to keep up—not just as individuals, but as nonprofit leaders and business owners.

Fear and anxiety are high. Supplies feel scarce. Distraction is in overdrive.

And yet, our world needs your work more than ever.

You are the best of us.
You are the inspirers, the problem-solvers, the helpers.
You may be small, but you are mighty.

According to the Small Business Administration, 99% of businesses in the United States are small businesses, and this includes nonprofits. Of those, 88% have less than 20 employees. In fact, small businesses employ almost half of the private US workforce.

This means that nonprofits, social enterprises, and social impact companies are vital, not only to our lives, but our culture. So, during this challenging time, how can you succeed when on some days, the odds may feel stacked against you?

Here is my curated list of funding options, marketing and communications resources, current discounts and opportunities, as well as tips for running your business online in this brave, new coronavirus world. I hope this serves as a life preserver during this unprecedented season. And take heart, friends, it is just a season.

By the way, in case someone hasn’t told you today: Thank you for what you do. It matters.

COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits, Social Enterprises, and Social Impact Companies

Financial Resources for Nonprofits, Social Impact Companies, and Small Businesses

Many of us will take a financial hit during COVID-19, so if you need financial assistance, here are some resources to help keep the proverbial doors open and lights on.

Benefits.gov helps point you to the right federal benefits that you may be eligible for.
The Small Business Administration has disaster loan assistance available for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners, and renters. They also created a page for small business guidance and loan resources. And here’s the direct page for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). NAV also put together a quick loan calculator, if you’re curious as to what you might be able to request.
The SBS also has a resource guide specifically for women-owned businesses.
Kiva has extended their free business loans to US entrepreneurs.
Here is some economic assistance specifically for my Atlanta-based business community and those throughout Georgia.
The TODAY Show has hosted multiple segments that provide financial advice to small business owners based on questions they receive on Facebook and Instagram.
An article from The Penny Hoarder outlines multiple funding and loan options available to you.
For my fellow Cobb County residents, the Cobb Chamber is striving to keep you updated and informed, both personally and professionally.
If you are a Georgia restaurant, the Giving Kitchen may be able to help you and your employees through this difficult time.
Forbes has a roundup of roundup of relief for small business owners, including quite a few options in the restaurant category.
Modest Needs is dedicated to helping hourly workers impacted by the coronavirus, as well as others in need of short-term, hourly assistance.
Springboard for the Arts has put together a list of funding resources specifically for the creative arts. Likewise, if you’re an author, poet, writer, or journalist, Poet’s & Writer’s has a guide for you.
Time to rethink your budget? Here are three approaches you should consider.
Vistage has given some good tips on protecting your small business from the virus, including legally.
Yelp has partnered with GoFundMe too add donate buttons to for-profit busineses.
Despite everything, it’s still tax season (though extended), so if you have questions about your small business’s charitable contributions, my friend Deb Meyer has some advice for you.
Facebook is providing $100 million in grants and ad credits for small businesses.
The Open Road Alliance is providing grants and loans to social impact organizations that run into unexpected obstacles.
Duke School of Business has a searchable (and growing) database of capital relief resources for entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and businesses, including grants and loans.
Verizon and LSIC have teamed up to offer $10,000 grants to small businesses, including nonprofits.
Sara Blakely and GlobalGiving have teamed up for the Red Backpack Fund, which will support female-owned businesses. (Sole proprietors not eligible, sadly.)
The final details are still somewhat forthcoming, especially for us itty bitty businesses, but this article from Forbes talks about the new CARES Act, which includes info on the Paycheck Protection Program, giving you the ability to keep your staff paid and working, resulting in loan reduction or forgiveness. (Includes nonprofits and solopreneurs)
Alice has teamed up with other companies to provide immediate, short-term grants to social impact companies.
GoFundMe is matching $500 grants on their platform.
SheaMoisture is providing funding specifically for minority-owned social impact companies through their Minority Business Fund.
Here’s a 12-page summary of the CARES Act, which is better than the 800-page original version, right?
If your organization is too big for the Paycheck Protection Program, check out the Main Street Lending Program.
If you’re in the fashion industry and suffering a loss of income, A Common Thread might be a great place to look for a grant.
NAV put together a state-by-state list of grants, loans, and government/non-profit resources for small businesses.
The Save Small Business fund is providing $5,000 grants to organizations in hard-hit areas who have 3-20 employees.
Finimpact has curated a list that includes some of the above, as well as additional loan and insurance options you might not have seen yet.
Global Giving is granting $1,000 to at least 100 vetted nonprofits, with no lengthy application required.
Charity Charge guides you through five questions to help you make the most of your nonprofit or small business credit card.
500 Female Founders is increasing their commitment with more resources, mentorship, and investment.
Three, new government credits available as of May 7th to all employers regardless of size, including tax-exempt organizations.
Did you know that the $2 trillion stimulus bill that was passed leaves out immigrant families? Here’s a great financial resource for DACA recipients.
Magic Johnson is offering $100 million in loans specifically for minority- and women-owned small businesses.
LISC has just announced new grant partners to increase funding for women and minority-owned small businesses affected by COVID-19.
Women looking for a small business loan should visit the national Chamber of Commerce website.
Consumers Advocate has reviewed and outlined the best small business loans based on loan options, application requirements, and the average rates and fees.
LISC opened up new small business grants, and are giving priority to underserved areas, but applications are due February 9, 2021.
Worried about your taxes? Here’s a small business tax guide for reference, including tax rates by entity type. (Choose them for your tax or accounting services and get $100 off when you say I referred you!)

Tips on Working From Home and Running Your Business Online

New to working from home? Or working from home with a house full of kids, partners, spouses, and pets? Here are some ideas to keep you productive.

Besides toilet paper, I should’ve bought stock in Zoom. If you’re just getting familiar with the platform, they’re hosting a few webinars to get you up to speed.
Here’s a great, to-the-point guide from The Skimm. I especially like that they included tips for staying on the same page as your boss.
Hypepotamus put together this list for startups, but the advice is applicable to just about any business.
Here’s some advice for hiring employees and running meetings online.
The Management Team has provided input for how to manage a team remotely.
Is your motivation waning during this extended time at home? We have some advice.
If you have the time and ability, this might be a fantastic opportunity for a business retreat. (I take them quarterly.) There’s no time to plan like the present, right?
Harvard Business Reviewe answered 15 popular work from home questions. Is one of them yours?
Trying to decide between Google Hangouts and Zoom for your online meetings? Click the link for a breakdown.
This Fast Company article has some stellar advice from the perspective of a CEO, including how to reinforce your mission, vision, and values.
Here are some good tips from NPR, including addressing managing expectations and knowing your own limitations, both of which are super important.
Share the joy. Have you been enjoying all the free-flowing memes online lately? Even though many of you work on serious issues, take a moment to share a laugh with your team. Having fun together matters, too.
Still trying to figure out what your response should be from a business perspective? Silver Lining has a “Business Unusual” workbook to walk you through possible answers.
Once co-working spaces open back up, should you move your team there? Here are some pros and cons.
CocoFax put together a list of over 500 remote working tools to help you be more productive and efficient.
CreditCards.com put together a guide specifically for disabled entrepreneurs who want to start a business.
This work from home guide explains how to set up your office space for both productivity and comfort.
OutwitTrade asked dozens of individuals for their work from home trips, and there are some great pieces of advice that I haven’t seen mentioned in other spots, such as: “Start working when you’d normally start your commute, not when you’d normally get to the office. Then you’ll have extra time for interruptions.”
Novoresume has not just tips for working from home, but how to find a remote job, and expected salaries for some remote jobs.
Need tech support for your Mac while working from home? One of these 17 tips might just be the support ticket you need . . . without the wait.
Obviously, I’m a big fan of communication, but it doesn’t always work the same with remote teams. Here are six tips for effective remote communication.

Marketing Resources

While many small businesses and nonprofits have had to shutter their doors during the coronavirus, sadly, there are still a lot of us who are working. That means, you still need to let people know about your products and services—hello, marketing! Here’s how to get the word out.

With everyone at home and online, this is an excellent time to improve your website!
Crisis or not, here are my tips for how to make time for marketing.
This is amazing advice from Hootsuite’s Vice President of Corporate Marketing on how to pivot your social strategy. I also love this quote by him, “Employees will remember leaders who led. Customers will remember who showed up, what we said, and how we helped them.”
Here’s an awesome resource list for event planners, complete with examples to follow, if you need to cancel an event or move it online.
My friend, Meg Casebolt, wants to make sure you get found online while everyone is at home, so she’s hosting free SEO workshops during March and April.
The Adobe Digital Summit will be held for free on March 31st!
If your cause is particularly relevant to the coronavirus conversation, this might be a great time to engage an influencer or get some good press. (Pro tip: If you’ve been previously featured in the media, reach back out to the journalist to see if you can help them again. Everyone is scrambling for relevant and helpful content!)
Since you’re home (and everyone else is, too), this might be a good time to start a YouTube Channel.
Improve your social media strategy with the use of hashtags. There are certainly lots of new ones popping up these days!
Here’s my Marketing Q&A: Coronavirus Edition held on Facebook Live, where I answered some of the questions I’ve been getting over the last couple of weeks.
The Social Enterprise Alliance gives you four steps for navigating COVID-19 as a social enterprise.
Vincit will create a free e-commerce roadmap that includes a strategy, tech resource recommendations, UX recommendations, and a consultation.
Here are 10 things you can do right now for your marketing and communications, including diagnosing whether your organization is candy, a vitamin, or a painkiller.
Don’t forget all the marketing and communications resources readily available on this site! We want to equip and empower nonprofits, social enterprises, and social impact companies everywhere. :)

Crisis Communications

How do you communicate with donors, customers, partners, and sponsors during tragedy or uncertain times?

My favorite COVID-19 email (is that okay to say?) came from Tiff’s Treats, and it came in the first wave of businesses talking about their response. I loved it because it took a positive stance. It doesn’t downplay the seriousness of the issue, but it does also talk about the good stuff coming out of a bad situation. I think more people should take their lead, and I think cause-focused organizations are in a unique position to follow suit. (Oh, and if you haven’t had their cookies yet, their chocolate chip variety is my favorite on the planet.)
Are you a Wikipedia devotee like me? If so, check out their insanely proactive response back at the beginning of March. I also love how it’s written, like a letter to friends.
3BL is offering free press releases services for social impact organizations communicating about COVID-19
Here are some strategies for communicating the coronavirus internally and externally, as well as examples you can follow.
I thought Lyft had a great response to model. It’s heartfelt, informative, action-oriented, and easy to read.
This post on the Public Relations Society of America blog gives a quick overview to get you up to speed quickly on talking about the pandemic.
Here are seven ways to build trust with your customers and donors during the outbreak.
The CDC has provided communications resources for us all to use, including print resources, videos, and images.
SCORE has created a handy checklist for creating a crisis communications plan.
Smarterqueue, the software I use for social scheduling (read my review here), has some tips on how to adjust your social strategy.
Honeybook will walk you through 18 steps to create a business continuity plan.
This is a good example from L.L.Bean, which speaks to the values of their company.
TalkWalker has laid out a very in-depth view of PR for you, including several crisis communication templates.
Engage for Good has a roundup of stats and studies for social impact organizations, which can help provide data for your response.
Be sensitive, understanding, and responsive. Here’s how Hershey’s pivoted quickly, which is a good example. However, I’ve seen people shaming brands for social posts, commercials, emails, and more, which frankly, I think is overreacting at times. Why? Because these things were probably scheduled weeks, days, or even months in advance. So, let’s all do what we can, and also show some grace while we all try and figure this out, especially as news is changing day-by-day. You may need someone to show you grace down the line.
Pathos Labs has created a playbook of 19 tips for influencers, explaining how they can talk with their audience about the crisis.

Software Discounts and Resources

Lots of companies are offering longer free trials and discounts. Be sure to check in with all of your favorites, or those you’ve been wanting to try.

First, here’s a list of resources, software, and more that I use and recommend.
Conscious Capitalism has moved their April conference online—and is giving it away for free!
My friend Christina at The Contract Shop is offering 20% off of her legal contracts and templates through April 10th.
Hootsuite is offering their Professional plan for free to small businesses and nonprofits until July 1st.
Calendly is offering free Zoom and GoToMeeting integrations through June. And let me take a moment to say, if you are not using a scheduling software like Calendly or Acuity yet, please do yourself a favor and create an account! Minimize those back-and-forth emails about scheduling meetings.
Loom, which is what I use for screen and video recording, is cutting prices, extending trials, and even offering free accounts for educators and students.
Many cell phone carriers are opening up free Wifi hotspot access at this time. Get the full scoop on what telephone and internet providers are doing here.
Take a look at all the ways Shopify is helping its customers with their online and in-person storefronts.
A few female-founded brands are doing a big giveaway for Women’s History Month, including Edgar, a social media scheduling service.
1Password, the software I use to generate and store my passwords, is offering six free months of 1Password Business.
Google (G Suite) is making some features that are normally reserved for Enterprise customers available to all accounts through July 1st.
Forbes put together this fantastic list of free software you can use during the crisis. Some of these are already my favs!
Mailchimp is offering free services to those with paid accounts. Your application must be submitted by April 30th.
Google is providing free ad credits for select small and medium business accounts.
Hypepotamus has a list of discounts, resources, leadership advice, and financial links for Southern startups.
Don’t have a graphic designer on staff? You can get a bevy of free poster templates, social media images, graphics, and more from Canva, Unsplash, and PosterMyWall.
Sparkhouse is offering to make a free video for local small businesses, in order to help them get the word out.
Need to build a new website or improve the one you’ve got? Jottful will provide you with a free, online roadmap.
With all of your employees working remotely, you may need to increase employee engagement and retention. Clarity Wave is giving you a free, three-month trial of their software to do just that.
If you’re hiring right now, ShareAble for Hires is offering free pre-employment background checks to small businesses through July 31st. Get great people back to work!

Resources Specifically for Nonprofits

Hooray—lots of places already offer nonprofit discounts. But, now more than ever, you might be able to find freebies and offers that work in your favor.

Was your fundraiser canceled as a result of the virus? This Mobile First post will walk you through some alternative options.
Here’s a comprehensive list compiled by a few nonprofit professionals that you can also contribute to.
Use the hashtag #NPCOVID19 to find recent updates and additions on the virus, and #Comms4Good anytime.
Along with other great resources for nonprofits of all sizes, Candid has created a funding summary for those who are supporting the response to the coronavirus.
Blackbaud has a great list of event and fundraising resources during possible impact.
The Small Business Association has disaster loan assistance available for private nonprofits.
My friends at Funraise have put together “Virtual Event Ideas From Nonprofit Event Experts”.
Asana is giving away free licenses to nonprofits working on the COVID-19 response.
The Nonprofit Finance Fund is telling you what you should be doing right now.
Our friend and personal fundraising coach, Debbie Barron, will talk you through some techniques that ring true anytime or season.
Marc Pitman gives you the “3 Biggest Mistakes of Fundraising During a Recession”.
Victoria Vrana of The Gates Foundation has some terrific advice for grantors and funders.
Boardable is giving you a 90-day free trial.
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits has put together a wonderful guide that includes employee and stakeholder care.
Be sure to care for your volunteers at this time! They matter now more than ever.
Don’t forget about all the technology discounts you already have at your disposal via TechSoup. They also have a list of resources for remote work.
WiredImpact has created their own list of resources to get you through this time, including topics like operations and HR.
Anytime is a good time to make your nonprofit stand out online. Madeline Kardos of Candid shows you one easy way.
The Communications Network is crowdsourcing a list of resources, examples, and best practices for nonprofits, as well as creating a crisis communications triage kit.
Even if they’re already awesome, there are a few ways your board can support you in good times and bad.
River Network has compiled a variety links for you, including a few that address equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice.
My friends over at Charity Charge interviewed the CEO of Global Impact to get his take on how nonprofit leaders can step up during times of crisis.
Anyone else a Lyft fan? They regularly provide community funding through LyftUp, and are also trying to figure out how they can help governments, healthcare entities, and nonprofits on the front lines of the coronavirus through this form.
This is a terrific article in the Harvard Business Review about fundraising during the coronavirus, plus an example of how to do it well.
Here are some additional grant funding opportunities that you may not yet be aware of, brought to you by NonProfit PRO and GrantStation.
Don’t forget to join the Endangered Nonprofit Coalition to receive materials that will help you promote your mission.

Additional Resources

Looking for personal resources? I’ve got you covered over at my personal blog. Here are my ideas for making the best of the coronavirus at home. Why not stay positive, right?

And my friend who contracted COVID-19 has been sharing her advice and tips for getting through the coronavirus with friends informally on Facebook, so I took them and created a blog post on my personal blog (with her permission). It’s helpful to hear her first-hand perspective, as well as some things we aren’t regularly hearing in the media.

Did I miss something important? I’ll be updating it as we get through this situation. Leave it in the comments, or email me at: kristi@signify.solutions
And since we’re all in this together, would you mind sharing this post with someone who may need this information?