Build a Nonprofit Brand that People LOVE to Support

Stop feeling misunderstood and start attracting your dream supporters. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when The Matchbox Method relaunches later this year.

Does this sound familiar?

“Our board doesn’t even understand what we do. How can we reach new people if our own team doesn’t get it?”


“Our campaigns never turn out as good as they seem in my head. Somewhere between what I communicate and get back...it all gets lost in translation.”

“I do all the “right” marketing things...email and posting regularly. But all I get is crickets.”

“Staying on brand is really hard. Sometimes you wanna try something new, but I don’t know what levers to pull.”

“I have a lot of patience, but finding the right contractors is exhausting. I’m so tired of all the back and forth to get a really crappy design I can’t even use.”

“I’ve tried a few design templates, but everything feels so inconsistent.”

You’re not alone.

“I've been wanting to spruce up our brand for a while now and kept losing steam. This course is just the help I needed to DIY our glow up!”

– Jo, Make.Do.

 

It’s no secret that the “social impact” space is getting more crowded by the day. There’s more competition than ever before, making it even more difficult for nonprofits to stand out.

Simply being a “501(c)3 organization” is not enough to get people to donate anymore. Now they can support the same cause, plus get something they want in return. How can nonprofits compete with million dollar marketing budgets of “social impact” companies that are also selling favorite shoes or fancy sunglasses?

Put simply, we have to start with our biggest strength: purpose.

For better or worse, people make decisions with their gut before they ever use their brain. In fact, for most of us, we make a decision based on how something makes us feel, then justify it in our brains to someone else.

People connect with brands that help them feel something. Healthy. Wealthy. Smart. Pretty. Funny. Bold. Adventurous. Kind. Generous.

This is human behavior! And instead of fighting it, we should use it to help inspire people to support your cause. We have to win the attention battle on our terms and with our strengths.

No matter how great your cause is or how much impact you make in the world, the best way for people to get what you do is to speak in a language they understand.

Nonprofits have to learn to pique curiosity and connect with people on an emotional level.

And if nonprofits don’t start upping their game – I worry this entire sector will be left in the dust behind these “social impact” businesses. And those billion dollar budgets? They’re to convince people that somehow shoes and sunglasses can be directly connected to doing good in the world. Your nonprofit has the real secret sauce!

If you’re not seeing the results you want from your marketing, then branding may be the deeper underlying issue. If you want your nonprofit to stop clamoring for support and thrive for decades to come, then it’s time to align our strategy and build brands with heart. 

 
 

Clear and consistent branding is essential for nonprofits to stand out.

Every day, I watch our clients at HeartSpark Design experience the power of discovering and owning who they are. Yet for many nonprofits, confusing copy and cluttered design turn people away before they ever get a chance to hear about your mission.

Which is exactly why I wanted to help. I created The Matchbox Method to help nonprofits get it right in the early years so that you have a strong foundation to build on as you grow.

I’ve spent over 13 years in the creative industry working for ad agencies, Fortune 200’s, tech startups, and small businesses. I know how to “speak branding” and have tailored that knowledge for your nonprofit.

Because good branding is the difference between people, corporations and foundations seeking YOU out...and crickets. 

Branding brings the “X factor.”
And yes, it can work for your nonprofit, too.

Even if you:

  • Think your nonprofit is too small to win grants or get attention from company partners

  • Aren’t a trained graphic designer or writer

  • Just started your nonprofit

  • Have never thought about how your brand is positioned for future success

You can:

  • Attract donors who are excited to talk with you

  • Look like a legit organization with credibility and expertise

  • Align with corporate partners who love your values

  • Make it easy for people to give to your organization online

  • Build an unshakeable foundation for your brand to grow and evolve with over time

...all with more confidence and a clearer plan for how to stand out from the crowd.

Introducing

Everything you need to build a strong nonprofit brand people LOVE to support.

The Matchbox Method is a self-guided online course designed to get your strategy aligned – FOR GOOD. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to…

Identify Your Advocates

There’s a group of passionate people out there who have been looking for your nonprofit. We’ll show you how to reach them through a compelling, unifying purpose.

Nail Your Brand Story

Stop throwing spaghetti against the wall and discover the pillars of your story that attract and keep supporters interested and sharing about your mission.

Rock Your Personality

No more rifling through templates that leave you feeling scattered. You’ll be able to confidently build and choose designs that fit your personality – without second guessing consistency.

Delegate!

Stop spending the midnight hours redoing work from your team or freelancers. With an arsenal of  tools and a digital brand guideline, you’ll be leading with clarity and confidence.

The Matchbox Method is the answer.

 

What’s Inside

The core course materials, including 38 video lessons, real-life nonprofit examples and worksheets, will be available within your portal!

  • 38 video lessons

  • Fun worksheets

  • Brand style quiz

  • Design tools

  • Bonus resources

  • Work at your own pace

  • Live community training

  • One-year access

 

What’s in the course?

The Matchbox Method consists of 3 core modules that make up the tenants of your brand. Each lesson is designed to connect your mission to your unique audience so it rings true.

Module 1: The Shared Identity System

With good communication, you can fuel passion that leads to donations. The key is to focus on the values of supporters. This lesson shows how to do just that by building a shared sense of identity.

In this module, you’ll learn how to:

  • Get really clear on your ideal supporters. Hint: not just donors!

  • Establish 5 core story pillars for outstanding alignment

  • Craft a mission statement that excites and ignites action

  • Collect and share stories that stick and spread like wildfire

Module 2: The Spark Sequence

The Spark Sequence provides a strategic way to show up in the world and rally support for your nonprofit naturally, using personality, visual cues and communication that resonates with followers.

In this module, you’ll learn how to:

    • Discover your nonprofit’s brand personality type. Quiz included!

    • Find your brand voice

    • Use the power of emotion to create meaningful names

    • Design an effective logo or objectively judge your current one

    • Pair your personality type with colors, fonts, photography, and graphics

    • Future-proof your nonprofit with a digital brand guideline built in Canva

Module 3: Frictionless Funnels Framework

After we have a shared identity system and spark system, it’s time to start putting your brand pieces into practice. In Frictionless Funnels we break down the main places your brand needs to be consistent online so that people get it and say YES!

In this module, you’ll learn how to:

    • Wireframe an effective homepage

    • Build a seamless online donation experience

    • Communicate directly with supporters via email and text

    • Spark curiosity with the masses on social media

    • Launch your new brand with confidence. Launch plan checklist included!

Bonus Training!

Manage Creative Contractors with Confidence

Lauren’s insider tips on how to confidently communicate with freelancers, marketing agencies, and creative studios. Plus, be the dream client contractors LOVE to work with every time you call.

In this module, you’ll learn how to:

  • Identify and hire top creative talent

  • Prepare and provide clear creative direction to your creative team

  • Hone your design eye so you can recognize great creative work

  • Review creative work with clarity and consistency

  • Be an irresistible client that keeps contractors excited to work with you

Tools of the Trade

There is a lot of software out there to help you maximize your brand and help your nonprofit grow, but I want to take a few minutes to share some of my favorites – and favorites that our clients love!

In this module, you’ll learn:

  • Our top creative tools for building consistent designs with ease

  • Our clients’ favorite marketing tools for a clean database

  • Essential roles for assembling your A-team

Spark Starters Community Group

Six-months of access to a private community group where you can connect with other nonprofit leaders going through the course, ask questions, share progress, and join monthly coaching calls.

Join The Matchbox Method Waitlist

The Matchbox Method is getting even better and will relaunch in late 2024.

Try The Matchbox Method for 100 days.
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

The Matchbox Method comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. My hope is that you get such ridiculous clarity and confidence from this course that you never look back to “the same old” way of doing things.

If you complete the full coursework, don’t feel that it worked for you, and submit your work within 100 days of your order, I’ll promptly refund your course fee. But I really hope you love the course and start seeing results right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes! Branding is much more than just a logo, fonts and color palette. Even if you already have pieces of your brand design, we’ll walk through how to objectively review and refine your look so it can better serve your brand’s strategy and personality!

  • There are 7 total modules (including intro and bonuses), each with 3-8 video lessons. These videos are between 5-20 minutes each. I tried to keep the content as concise yet packed full of helpful information as possible!

  • You’ll get the full course content, including bonuses and community group access, for the full 12 months. I’ll also host monthly coaching calls to answer questions and provide real-time feedback! These calls will be recorded and available to all active students.

  • Yes! This course is designed for branding beginners. Most of what makes a brand successful centers around strategy. Although a strong logo and color palette certainly helps your brand stand out, it is not the most important part of what makes up your brand. Plus, we share ALL our design tips in this course – from how to refine your logo to how to hire creative help. Whether you’re looking to DIY your graphic design or are looking to hire creative contractors – this course is for you!