How to Make a Briefing Booklet for a Nonprofit Organization

The most important tool for a nonprofit organization is the briefing booklet. This can be used to increase donor awareness about the organization and bring in grants for future operating expenses. Many nonprofits have limited marketing budgets and staff. Not to worry. A great booklet can be created in-house with limited funds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trifold 8½-by-11-inch paper suitable for an ink jet printer
• Computer with Office software
• Ink jet printer
• Images of your organization or staff

How to Make a Briefing Booklet for a Nonprofit Organization

1. Appoint a project director. First designate a project manager in the organization to create this project. Does the business have a dedicated marketing coordinator? Or will the task of creating the brochure fall to the executive director? If possible, hire an intern or assistant to help with the writing and compilation of information for the project.

2. Outline the necessary content. Next create an outline of what the booklet must include. Information such as what the nonprofit's services are, area served, qualifications to receive services, staff profiles and last year's or current annual operating expenses are crucial for the briefing booklet. As a 501(c)3 federal tax status nonprofit organization, the most important part to donors and grant agencies will be your operating expenses and budget, as full disclosure is required by law.

3. Lay out the sections on a computer. All Office software can easily create a template for a brochure layout. The cover of the brochure should be saved for images, a mission statement for the organization and possibly address, phone or website. The inside left and middle should include services and history of the organization, area served and qualifications. On the back side of the template, save room for budget expenses and possibly staff profiles and further contact information.

4. Make the booklet a dual-use marketing tool by utilizing the far-right section of the booklet as a "tear-off" donation sheet that can be easily mailed to the organization. This is an effective way to increase the marketability of a briefing brochure and turn it into a handy tool for donors to increase pledges. It also saves the cost of an additional pledge mailing.

5. Include images of staff, clients at events or working with staff, and even photos of your building or offices to enhance the professional image and personal style of the briefing booklet.

6. Proofread. Before printing, be sure to have several other staff members proofread the brochure for misspellings and information that could be incorrect. Typos and errors can only hurt a nonprofit's efforts at increasing visibility, awareness and donations.

7. Don't skimp on paper. If printing in-house, be sure to buy a higher grade of paper that will still run through a small ink jet printer. And get a new ink jet cartridge for the printing run, so copies are fresh and look professionally printed.

8. Increase exposure. After printing is done, send additional mailings of the briefing booklet to local donor organizations and media outlets to increase awareness about the nonprofit's efforts in the community.

Tips & Warnings

• Printing does not have to be done by an outside source, and material does not have to be created by an advertising agency. With a little time and effort by staff, a professional booklet can be done in-house, spending only small amounts of money on the cost of paper and ink.
• Be sure to proofread the brochure and have it reviewed by a national "parent" organization if the nonprofit is required in its bylaws to have marketing approval by the larger organization.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How To Make Big Money With Low-Budget Postcard Projects. PostcardProfits.com