When most non-profits ask about incorporating artists into their awareness and fundraising campaigns, they think about celebrities or influencer personalities. In their minds, what these public figures offer non-profits is their platform and reach. While we wholeheartedly agree with that value proposition, we want to ensure that non-profits don’t overlook the value that artists produce through their art alone and miss how they can tap into that art’s value for cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entertain Impact CEO Paul M. Katz<\/a> says it’s important to remember that visual artists, designers, performers, and musicians are all cultural creators and influencers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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“If they’re integrated into a thoughtful cause influence strategy they can not only elevate social issues through PSAs and social media posts, but also touch people’s hearts and minds through their art.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the latest installment of our cause influence series,<\/a> we’re sharing examples of how we’ve helped non-profits integrate original art for cause into their awareness-building and fundraising programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Collaborate With an Artist to Create Custom Non-Profit Merchandise<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Partnering with an artist or illustrator to design merchandise for your non-profit is one way to use cause-inspired artists and original art for fundraising. For-profit product brands have done this for years and are increasingly incorporating social messages and causes into those partnerships. For example, check out Nike’s collaboration with Steve Harrington<\/a> for Earth Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since partnering with an artist for social good is new for many cause marketers, we suggest starting small. Pick a more popular product sold through your organization’s merchandise catalog\u2014a t-shirt, scarf, or mug. Then find an artist and invite them to design for that product specifically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you do your research and due diligence to find the right artist (see our research tips here),<\/a> take every opportunity to talk about your collaboration, from announcing the relationship to sharing behind-the-scenes moments that capture the creative process to promoting the merchandise when it’s launched. This will help you drum up attention among your existing audience and get your non-profit’s message in front of the artist’s audience. An artist choosing to collaborate with you and create art for your non-profit is an affirmation of your organization’s work, so your introduction to an entirely new audience comes with instant credibility\u2014an added bonus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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