A resource guide to inclusive branding
Think back to your last branding process. Whose voices were centered in making decisions? How did you measure if it was successful?
Inclusive branding involves developing brand strategy, messaging, and visuals that are informed by engaging your staff and different members of your community. An inclusive branding process can help create a more welcoming environment while building trust and credibility in the ongoing practice of your brand across communications channels.
For nonprofits, inclusive branding is another way an organization can demonstrate its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while strengthening connections with those in their communities that are vital to achieving its mission.
If you’re thinking about integrating or expanding the ways your nonprofit incorporates inclusive branding, this collection of resources is a great place to start.
Developing an inclusive brand
When it comes to branding, one of the most important questions to ask is, “Who are we not reaching?” Developing or updating your brand is a chance to open doors to new audiences, while also deepening the relationships of those who are already connected to you.
- Gain insights and practical tips on how to create an inclusive organizational voice that reflects your values and resonates with your audience.
- Listen to this podcast as Sarah Durham talks with Michelle Shireen Muri, founder of Freedom Conspiracy, about the importance of centering your community in fundraising and communications. Dig even deeper and learn why a community-centered process should precede strategy and brand to ensure that the vision and goals of an organization align with the needs and desires of its audiences.
- Discover how to meaningfully engage your community with your brand, from identifying your audience to creating content and building relationships. Take a note from Elisabeth King of Lycée Français de New York who successfully involved over 2,000 people in her nonprofit’s rebrand as she discusses how to engage your community during the rebranding process.
- Tune in as Farra Trompeter talks with Dr. Renee Rubin Ross about strategies for building inclusive processes in branding and other aspects of organizational work.
- Jennifer Daw Holloway of Ipas shares a unique approach to branding that involves a democratic process in which members of the internal team are prioritized in decision-making and brand-building.
Communicating your brand in an inclusive way
Organizations must lead with equity to carve a path toward inclusion. Evaluating processes, taking the time to connect with and learn from your audiences, and ensuring your organization’s actions are values-driven is a solid start.
- Tap into the ways that communications teams play a critical role in prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion and review these tips for achieving DEI through messaging.
- How do accessibility standards intersect with visual identities? Explore some specific considerations to make sure your nonprofit brand is an inclusive one as you make decisions around color, typography, and more when you find yourself wondering if your brand can be more accessible.
- Explore how nonprofit organizations can use inclusive branding to build stronger relationships with their diverse audiences via this discussion between Farra Trompeter and communications professional Chris Tuttle.
- Is it time to change your organization’s name, but you’re unsure how to engage others and build buy-in? Read this interview about the John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity’s process and the benefits of changing its name to better reflect the institution’s mission and values.
Creating a foundation of inclusion within your nonprofit is a game-changer when it comes to more meaningfully showing up for those in your community. We hope these resources offer some clarity and direction for ways to practice inclusive branding. If you need more assistance navigating this journey, drop us a line–we are here to help!
