Animal Welfare Professionals

I know this might be a crazy question, but what did organizations do before social media? How did you advertise and fundraise? 

I'm asking seriously because I need to take a break from social media and obviously nonprofits existed long before social media was even an idea, long before the internet was even an idea.

Appreciate any ideas and feedback 

#FundraisingandDevelopment

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Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
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We still use older methods in addition to social media. Not every one is social media savvy. We have a list of all of the community bulletin boards in town and still put up a poster for every event. Still use the local newspaper advertising on occasion. We have business sponsored "pet of the week" in one paper. The local radio station calls us every friday morning for a 2-3 minute live radio spot to promote one cat  and one dog (free). We look at community events, festivals, etc. and make an attempt to piggyback onto as many of those as possible ( promotional and/ or fundraising).

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Rochelle Hamp
Executive Director
Headwaters Animal Shelter
MN
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It's important to continue to use some non-social media marketing methods.  Some ideas: Put a flyer on community bulletin boards (vet's, laundromat, library, churches).  Distribute brochures at local businesses (and be sure to provide the brochure holder as well to ensure they are put out).  Send stories to your local newspaper that can be used instead of paying for advertising.  Work with local radio station for interview opportunities. Send the local churches some text that they can include in their weekly church bulletin.   Speak at local groups like the Rotary to get your message out.

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Karen Kirsch
Founder
Spayed and Aid
KY
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I agree with Rochelle. Garfield's Rescue is situated in a rural area with a high % of low income, and an over 65+ population (I'm74!). Everyone isn't in FB and we've not had our greatest successes on FB. We run an annual "Wine & Whiskers" fundraiser with music, hirs d'oeuvres, Silent Auction and 50/50 raffle. Proceeds were $40,000 w/ all silent auction items, wine and music donated. We sold tickets online, and at local retailers. Fliers were posted at libraries, post offices and retailers. We send out an information/story/successes packed newsletter twice annually w/ donation envelope  that is successful. We mail out 9000 fundraiser letters to 3 of the 4 counties  we service in our rescue, S/N/V, foster to adopt mission. This is also successful. We keep our name out there by publishing successful rescue stories, visit nursing and independent living homes with cats/kittens for cuddling  and exhibit at the many Farmer's Markets and regional fairs educating the public on the lifesaving importance of spaying, neutering and vaccinating one's pets. We also have an active website where we tell success stories and have a media section where all of our publications can be read.  We have been advised if the importance, also, if an email campaign that keeps our readers interested in specific stories about cars/kittens recoveries and resilience against all odds. Yes, we also use FB and social media, but not as successfully as all of the above combined

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Karen Peterson
Vice president
Garfield's Rescue, Inc.
VA
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So many great and creative ideas!  I need to copy and paste all of these replies!  I love the idea of visiting nursing/assisted living facilities.  I work in hospice and our volunteer program has a pet therapy program. I would have never thought to use our foster kittens in this way!  And what a great way for some extra socialization for all the kitties!  I host outdoor sound baths once a month. Last month we had rain so we brought the sound bath inside.  I happened to have a foster kitten quarantined in the space we used so it became a kitten bath. Everybody loved her and wanted to take her home. Maybe I need to regularly incorporate kittens into the sound bath!

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Becky Thompson
Rescue Staff
Animal Rescue Alliance
CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 07:01 AM
From: Karen Peterson
Subject: Old school marketing and fundraising

I agree with Rochelle. Garfield's Rescue is situated in a rural area with a high % of low income, and an over 65+ population (I'm74!). Everyone isn't in FB and we've not had our greatest successes on FB. We run an annual "Wine & Whiskers" fundraiser with music, hirs d'oeuvres, Silent Auction and 50/50 raffle. Proceeds were $40,000 w/ all silent auction items, wine and music donated. We sold tickets online, and at local retailers. Fliers were posted at libraries, post offices and retailers. We send out an information/story/successes packed newsletter twice annually w/ donation envelope  that is successful. We mail out 9000 fundraiser letters to 3 of the 4 counties  we service in our rescue, S/N/V, foster to adopt mission. This is also successful. We keep our name out there by publishing successful rescue stories, visit nursing and independent living homes with cats/kittens for cuddling  and exhibit at the many Farmer's Markets and regional fairs educating the public on the lifesaving importance of spaying, neutering and vaccinating one's pets. We also have an active website where we tell success stories and have a media section where all of our publications can be read.  We have been advised if the importance, also, if an email campaign that keeps our readers interested in specific stories about cars/kittens recoveries and resilience against all odds. Yes, we also use FB and social media, but not as successfully as all of the above combined

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Karen Peterson
Vice president
Garfield's Rescue, Inc.
VA
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Our visits to the Assisted/ Independent Living complexes are enjoyed by all. We do make certain we take pics of the residents w/ our kittens and submit a narrative with the picture to keep our name  and organization mission in the local newspaper.  Monthly news articles and establishing relationships generate those all important donations that enable us to continue our rescue efforts and save lives.  Plus, we're always fortunate to secure adopters, foster parents and volunteers through our visits. Our senior  visitors are often looking to adopt a senior cat that's more sedentary and more of a lap cat, so it's a perfect match and a win-win for all. 

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Karen Peterson
Vice president
Garfield's Rescue, Inc.
VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2024 03:44 PM
From: Becky Thompson
Subject: Old school marketing and fundraising

So many great and creative ideas!  I need to copy and paste all of these replies!  I love the idea of visiting nursing/assisted living facilities.  I work in hospice and our volunteer program has a pet therapy program. I would have never thought to use our foster kittens in this way!  And what a great way for some extra socialization for all the kitties!  I host outdoor sound baths once a month. Last month we had rain so we brought the sound bath inside.  I happened to have a foster kitten quarantined in the space we used so it became a kitten bath. Everybody loved her and wanted to take her home. Maybe I need to regularly incorporate kittens into the sound bath!

------------------------------
Becky Thompson
Rescue Staff
Animal Rescue Alliance
CA
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 04-17-2024 07:01 AM
From: Karen Peterson
Subject: Old school marketing and fundraising

I agree with Rochelle. Garfield's Rescue is situated in a rural area with a high % of low income, and an over 65+ population (I'm74!). Everyone isn't in FB and we've not had our greatest successes on FB. We run an annual "Wine & Whiskers" fundraiser with music, hirs d'oeuvres, Silent Auction and 50/50 raffle. Proceeds were $40,000 w/ all silent auction items, wine and music donated. We sold tickets online, and at local retailers. Fliers were posted at libraries, post offices and retailers. We send out an information/story/successes packed newsletter twice annually w/ donation envelope  that is successful. We mail out 9000 fundraiser letters to 3 of the 4 counties  we service in our rescue, S/N/V, foster to adopt mission. This is also successful. We keep our name out there by publishing successful rescue stories, visit nursing and independent living homes with cats/kittens for cuddling  and exhibit at the many Farmer's Markets and regional fairs educating the public on the lifesaving importance of spaying, neutering and vaccinating one's pets. We also have an active website where we tell success stories and have a media section where all of our publications can be read.  We have been advised if the importance, also, if an email campaign that keeps our readers interested in specific stories about cars/kittens recoveries and resilience against all odds. Yes, we also use FB and social media, but not as successfully as all of the above combined

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Karen Peterson
Vice president
Garfield's Rescue, Inc.
VA

I love this question, it's not crazy at all to branch out from social media, and it's SMART!

Back in the dinosaur age before social, I worked as a development assistant for a non-profit community health care org. Among the other types of outreach mentioned above (participating in community events, partnering with other orgs, etc), we relied heavily on direct mail to a curated list, and we did a quarterly newsletter with an appeal envelope inside. We had an annual fundraising gala too. And our development director did a ton of networking with potential large donors. It was a lot of hands on work and much more fun than being behind a computer all day!

Also, you might want to pick up a copy of the Jay Levinson book, Guerilla Marketing. Maybe even get an OLD version (it's been around since the late 80s), to peer into what hands-on marketing looked like before the internet age.

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Rene Agredano
Tripawds
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Thank you, everyone, some really great ideas and advice!

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Sincerely,
Johanna Spielman
Founder of Jamie Brianna's Legacy Fund
https://jamiebriannaslegacyfund.org/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2024 09:27 AM
From: Rene Agredano
Subject: Old school marketing and fundraising

I love this question, it's not crazy at all to branch out from social media, and it's SMART!

Back in the dinosaur age before social, I worked as a development assistant for a non-profit community health care org. Among the other types of outreach mentioned above (participating in community events, partnering with other orgs, etc), we relied heavily on direct mail to a curated list, and we did a quarterly newsletter with an appeal envelope inside. We had an annual fundraising gala too. And our development director did a ton of networking with potential large donors. It was a lot of hands on work and much more fun than being behind a computer all day!

Also, you might want to pick up a copy of the Jay Levinson book, Guerilla Marketing. Maybe even get an OLD version (it's been around since the late 80s), to peer into what hands-on marketing looked like before the internet age.

------------------------------
Rene Agredano
Tripawds
------------------------------

I LOVE this post! We've been trying to branch out to different demographics in our community, and part of that demographic is our elderly generation and/or folks who aren't on social media. I appreciate all the great ideas and we will absolutely be using these to reach more of our amazing community! 

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Mariah Donovan
Communications Coordinator
SPCA of Hancock County
ME
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One other comment to my post concerning non-social media marketing.  We even post  the fliers with the tear off tabs with our organization name and phone number to call when the resident has items to donate for our yard sale fundraisers. The retailer where posted will call to tell us they need a new sheet as all the tabs have been taken!  

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Karen Peterson
Vice president
Garfield's Rescue, Inc.
VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2024 12:26 PM
From: Mariah Donovan
Subject: Old school marketing and fundraising

I LOVE this post! We've been trying to branch out to different demographics in our community, and part of that demographic is our elderly generation and/or folks who aren't on social media. I appreciate all the great ideas and we will absolutely be using these to reach more of our amazing community! 

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Mariah Donovan
Communications Coordinator
SPCA of Hancock County
ME
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