For those of you that offer grants to the public, how do you get the word out?

MeredithEdwards

I am curious about a few things:

1. What is the most popular way of marketing grant opportunities?
2. Do you find that some methods work better than others?
3. What are some more creative / out-of-the-box methods of marketing your grants?

BettieStammerjohn

Following. Would love to hear what others do. Ours is mostly press releases to the print news, email blasts, some social media (not my strong suit.)

KarenWolf

We primarily use Social Media and the local newspaper. However, during our last cycle we also purchased radio spots and asked local Chambers to share the information with members through their weekly newsletter.

MeredithEdwards

@KarenWolf I love that you're advertising your grant on the radio! Also, which social media platforms do you like to use?

KarenWolf

@MeredithEdwards we are currently on FB, Instagram and LinkedIn.

JoyceBrasher

We have a standard grant cycle that we follow year to year. We post a calendar on our website and update it as needed. New grantees learn about us through word of mouth and our existing grantees pretty much know our schedule. It works for us since we only serve the state of Alabama.

http://danielfoundationofalabama.com/

MeredithEdwards

@JoyceBrasher Seems like word of mouth seems to actually be a pretty effective method for both grant makers and grant seekers!

KristinBurgoyne

Follow us on Facebook and find out!! https://www.facebook.com/MontanaArtsCouncil

But seriously.... I think you have to build slowly and be consistent and relentless. Besides facebook, our two greatest marketing techniques are eblasts (we are a government agency so use eGov Delivery) and targeted word of mouth.

To have eblasts work you have to make sure the right message is getting to the right people.... so that requires a lot of thought in designing the sign up options and developing the targeted lists. And you have to market the opportunity to sign up for the lists at other times when you aren't advertising a specific grant. You know what I mean? We are trying to figure this part out.

And targeted word of mouth.... still the best. So, for example, we might send an email/eblast to our council members and ask them to share/repost on facebook or to pass the info along to eligible applicants in their communities. Or send an artist opportunity to museums around the state and ask them to share with their constituency.

TobiBruhn

Agree with the theme of communicating consistent grant cycles. We mostly use e-blasts and social media. We also use special nonprofit edition published annually by local newspapers to publish our annual grant cycles. Seen a good response from that strategy.