WORKING WELL WITH OTHERS – THE KEY TO MAKING YOUR CHAPTER GROW.
By: Melba Phipps
Support to single parents and their children, that’s what we provide. But as an non-profit we are not the only ones. What makes us different? Why would a single mom or dad consider joining PWP?? What sets us apart from the others?
The main thing to remember is that, we are one of the only non-profits that offers support specifically to Single Parents by offering education, training, and social activities for parents and kids. We need to realize that other single groups or non-profits are not our “competition” they are a source of members for us. Many of our members belong to more than one non-profit, be it a church, a singles group, or a child oriented group like Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, or sports. We offer a very different type of programming and support than any of those. Networking with these groups, so that they refer people to us (and we refer to them) is the key to increasing membership. People have in the past, and will continue to join groups that present themselves in a way that gives them what they need.
But, how do we do it? There are many opportunities. Being out in the public eye is one. fairs, bazaars, and other events usually encourage non-profits to set up booths for a nominal cost. Having an activity to attract the children to your booth is a great way to get the parents attention.
Supporting other groups activities is another way. Try coordinating a team at the Cancer Society Relay for Life or having a group walk in a fund raiser for another cause brings attention to your chapter. Think about designing T-shirts, or special name bands, or hats that identify you as PWP members.
Have a table at a community yard sale, and donate proceeds to a local charity.
Send press-releases into the local newspaper. Announce your elections, or anything else that seems news worthy. Advertise open events and orientations in the local papers also.
Co-sponsor a guest speaker. Many people will speak for free, in order to get leads for future business for them. Public Libraries and other social centers have rooms available for use for gatherings like this. Working with another association, demonstrates a team atmosphere. Other groups will not see us as just a singles group.
Get busy growing your advisory team , they have contacts and will pass on the PWP message to many of their clients and friends. Most of our members come from referrals. Make sure this team knows where to send people that need more information.
Join the local chamber of commerce. Or maybe you have a member that might already belong, get them to carry PWP literature with them.
Contact the schools in the areas PTA’s. Sometimes they allow tables or even might let you talk about PWP during one of their meetings.
Check with the local library, sometimes they allow non-profits to set up tables in the lobby to educate residents about what exactly PWP is.
Consider doing a mass mailing to local doctors, lawyers, schools and churches. Make inexpensive business cards, and flyers that carry the PWP message. Offer to bring more by, if they need them.
Make sure all your members know where to refer people that want to join the chapter. Make sure your voicemail is up to date. Encourage members to bring non-members to open events. Make sure you have as many open Activities as are allowed, let people see PWP in action.
The main idea is not to look at the other non-profits as competition. We all have common goals, but PWP offers unique services to single parents and their families, there are not any other ones out there specifically like us. Single Parents need a place to socialize and still take their kids. Single Parents need a place to learn how to blend families, juggle both mom and dad responsibilities, and how to deal with divorce or loss of a spouse. Single Parents are very busy people, usually overwhelmed most of the time. If we offer them a break or an outlet where they are understood, they will see the value of our group. Remember, we have been around for this long only because we serve a purpose. We provide a much needed service to single parents and their children.
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