Crisis Comms Planning: Essential Nonprofit Guide
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Okay, so youre a nonprofit, right? check And things, well, they never go completely smoothly, do they? managed service new york Thats where crisis comms planning comes in! managed services new york city Its basically your "oh, crap!" plan, but, you know, more professionally worded.
Think of it this way: you work tirelessly to build trust, to show folks youre doing good. But one wrong move, one scandal (even if its just a perception thing), and BAM! That trust can vanish faster than you can say "bad press." And nobody wants that.
So, whats involved? It aint just slapping together a press release when the manure hits the fan. Its thinking ahead. managed it security services provider Whos on your crisis team? Do you know who to call when things go sideways? Have you identified potential nightmare scenarios? Like, what if your ED gets caught doing something, uh, less than ethical? What if theres a data breach? You gotta have answers, or at least a plan for finding answers, before the media is hounding you.
Dont underestimate the power of internal communication, either. Your staff is on the front lines; theyre talking to donors, volunteers, the community. If theyre left in the dark, they cant effectively defend your organization. managed services new york city Keep em informed, even if its just to say, "Hey, were aware of the situation and working on it." Silence breeds suspicion, ya know?
Its also vital not to ignore social media. managed it security services provider Its where a lot of these crises tend to blow up. Monitor what people are saying. Have a strategy for responding (or, sometimes, not responding). Dont get into flame wars, thats never good! And please, for the love of all thats holy, dont delete negative comments unless theyre truly offensive or contain misinformation. Acknowledge concerns, be transparent, and show that youre taking the situation seriously.
Crisis communication isnt fun. Its stressful, time-consuming, and often requires making tough decisions. check But by taking the time to plan ahead, you can minimize the damage and, maybe, even come out stronger on the other side! check Wow, thats the dream, isnt it! It isnt something you can avoid, so you might as well prepare.
