Marketing. The word alone makes many nonprofit folks feel overwhelmed or even resistant.
But what if we reframed it?
Instead of focusing on what you need as a nonprofit marketer—selling tickets, promoting programs—start by thinking about what your audience wants to hear. What story will help them understand your mission and inspire them to take action?
In other words, marketing is simply actionable storytelling. And if you work in arts and culture, you already know how to tell powerful stories.
The real challenge? Making sure those stories are aligned with your purpose—and lead somewhere.
Too often, nonprofits fall into the trap of selling their product: Come to our show. Buy a ticket. Attend our gala.
But productions aren’t the core product. Your mission is. The performance is just one way that mission comes to life.
When we reframe marketing as mission in motion, everything changes.
Here’s how it works:
💫Tell the Story. What are you doing? Why does it matter? Who does it affect?At ArtsRising, we’ve spent months refining this practice into the Aligned Content Matrix™; a system that helps you match the type of story (a personal quote, a program highlight, a milestone) with the right call to action, across the right platform.
And here’s the good news: your most powerful content likely already exists.
We simply know how to utilize it effectively.
Your grant narrative is content. You’ve already written about your mission, your impact, and your goals with passion and clarity. That language isn’t just for funders—it’s for your community.
Your board materials contain stories of progress and insight. Your challenges and hardships? When shared honestly and timely, they become some of your most compelling calls to action.
When you align story + purpose + platform, you stop broadcasting and start building relationships.
Marketing doesn’t live in a separate department. It’s not the final push. It’s a core act of your mission.