Nonprofit organizations enhance communities by providing services and resources, oftentimes with a mission to advocate for a cause. While the goals of nonprofit may vary, effectively engaging the community is essential in ensuring the overall success of the organization. This engagement includes incorporating diverse and culturally inclusive verbiage in all messaging.

Historically, organization’s advertising and communications plans have neglected to incorporate members outside of the dominant culture, oftentimes leaving communities of color without any sense of personal connection with many of the organizations within their communities. Incorporating diverse cultures and experiences is essential in creating an authentic relationship with community members. Here are a few reasons why nonprofits should be inclusive in their communications outreach:

• Understanding the diverse audiences can help you develop genuine relationships.

• Genuine understanding of culturally diverse perspectives helps avoid tone deaf engagement.

• Culturally diverse branding and overall message connects you with the audience you’re hoping to serve.

Culturally responsive practices support the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences from various cultural and ethnic background to develop messaging and branding. Whether it be verbiage used in social media or television campaigns, or images connected with advertising and branding, through our upcoming training, we hope all of your future discourse - visual, written or spoken - is culturally sensitive and inclusive.

To learn more about creating culturally inclusive communications and marketing strategies, join me on Friday, November 22nd for the Creating Culturally Inclusive Communications Strategies and Messaging training at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence from 9 AM - 11 PM.