How does culture impact your organization and brand?

More and more, there’s buzz about the internal, political dynamics within organizations of all types, and how it shapes success. This recent article in the New York Times interviewing Warby Parker CEO Neil Blumenthal talks about the importance of integrating values into the workplace, creating forums for sharing, and developing a culture of candor, for instance.

Why do some nonprofits (and for-profits) have brands that feel really dimensional and alive, while others might look good or sound good, but perhaps it rings a bit flat? I’m convinced culture is a huge part of it.

Branding shouldn’t be make up- and it should never be ‘putting lipstick on a pig’, as the saying goes. Your nonprofit’s brand strategy, messaging, and visual identity should be an honest articulation of the organization inside and out.

For years, we Ducks have been observing the impact of corporate culture on the nonprofits we work with. We’ve even developed ways to integrate culture, politics, and buy-in into our brandraising process, so organizations have a better shot at success.

If you’re interested in what we’ve uncovered, I’ll be giving a workshop twice this fall called “The Beliefs Behind your Brand”, once in Connecticut on November 15, and again at Big Duck’s Brooklyn office on November 21. Hope you can make it!