Our Process

Hidden behind every mission statement is a more compelling and heartfelt story of why
an organization does what it does. Educating young people. Saving rivers. Caring for the dying. Ending poverty. Why are these things important, and why should people care enough to support you?

If you’re a values-driven organization that needs to raise money, or find the most appropriate grantee, or recruit the right student, it’s essential to tell the world why you are here. Do that well and your prospects begin to connect emotionally to your cause.
When that happens, meaningful and sustainable engagement happens, too.

We help organizations find and engage people who, because of shared beliefs and values, are most likely to support them. We do this by integrating strategies, language and design into powerful stories that weave why an organization exists into what it does and how.

Here’s how we do it:

We get to know your why.

We begin simply enough with an initial meeting—at our place or yours—to discuss who matters to you and why. No matter the assignment, our inclination is to examine and learn about your organization from every angle. It is this perspective—listening to your heart, mind, soul, and gut—that steers our imagination and keeps our approach honest, candid, and right. Together, we’ll determine if we should dive deeper by talking with others who might share other perspectives about your organization and what you are trying to accomplish. We get to know your business thoroughly—its attributes, values, benefits, and challenges. We also define your objectives, audiences, budget, schedule, and measures of impact.

We identify reasons why people should care.

Color, fonts, imagery, and language aren’t allowed in the room until we determine smart and tactical positioning. Results are born from meticulous strategy which is outlined in a carefully prepared creative summary.

We craft an engaging story that’s right the first time.

People respond to what they feel and understand personally. With a keen eye on your unique, differentiating position, we wrangle, perfect, and test our most imaginative and persuasive ideas until we know that your story—your why—will resonate the most with the people who matter the most to you. Words and design compel people to act when they connect hearts with minds.

We launch your voice and pay attention to who’s listening.

A meaningful story must be heard. Using the most appropriate media channels—from print to interactive and social engagement venues, from ear-catching radio spots to compelling video—we focus on the most effective, economical, and measurable avenues to send your message to the world. We want to understand how people respond so we can adjust, refine and strengthen your story for even greater impact.

We speak your language.

There is no question that the strategies and language of nonprofit communication are unique. In his book, ‘Storytelling as Best Practice,’ Andy Goodman writes, ‘Although the nonprofit sector remains devoted to data and enamored of empirical evidence, we often fail to realize that the battle of hearts and minds starts with the hearts.’

Since 1996, we have helped values-driven organizations win the battle of connecting to the hearts—and minds—of people who can help them be successful. It’s what we do best, and we’re often told by clients, fundraising experts, and others that our intuition and grasp of the language of nonprofits is what differentiates M Creative from others.

We look forward to helping you, too.