The Cyrano Project will collaborate with Good News People (http://www.goodnewspeople.org) to present:
Inspirational New Yorkers: an Exhibition of Good News Stories about New Yorkers, for New Yorkers.
We will create a public exhibition of posters specially designed by New York design students that will each tell the moving story of a New Yorker who has succeeded in overcoming a challenge or in making a difference with the help of one of New York’s 25,000 nonprofits.
The exhibition of these uplifting stories will illuminate the significant and positive role New York’s nonprofits play in the life of the city and it will be a demonstration of the power of the designer and printed communications to serve good causes. A book will be created showcasing the posters and describing how the design students responded to the stories that they discovered.
Here's what we'll do:
Garth Walker Workshop
20 selected students from the New York’s leading design schools will create the posters. They will be guided in a one-of-a-kind Workshop to be led by Garth Walker, the internationally renowned Graphic Designer from Durban, South Africa where he edits the groundbreaking I-jusi magazine. (http://www.ijusi.co.za/).
Walker is known for encouraging designers to develop a local design language that reflects the immediate surroundings. This will be a very special opportunity for the students to learn from a master and bring his thinking to these New York stories.
Public Exhibit – The One Club
The exhibition of the posters created by the students will be premiered in December 2007, at the prestigious One Club for Art and Copy, who have generously made their gallery available.(http://www.oneclub.org)
Book - Inspirational New Yorkers
A book will be created, presenting the posters along with quotes from the subjects and quotes from students who worked on the project. Text, photographs and other rich documentation from the project will show how these creatives responded to these real people who are overcoming real challenges and to the nonprofits that support their efforts.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Why an ad person should care
It’s a story to make even the most hard-bitten ad-guy weep: a nonprofit organization struggling to save the lives of Rwandan orphans, or to reach kids in your own community who have been sexually molested, or researching Chagas Disease, which kills more people than AIDS.
Never heard of them? That’s the part that could make you cry. With all their passion, these organizations will never accomplish all they should – simply because they lack the basic communications skills you and I learned as ad cubs.
But here’s the happy ending:
The Cyrano Project, a nonprofit founded by communications professionals, has a plan to change all that. Our mission is to help nonprofits tell their stories eloquently and effectively. We started helping them one by one – but we’ll never reach them all. Pro bono work is not the answer. Consulting is not the answer.
The answer is a radical new way to deliver the expertise of communications professionals to the fingertips of thousands of nonprofits across the country - over the Internet. Cyrano’s SolutionBuilder on the web is being designed to incorporate tools, worksheets, how-tos and templates that have best practices built in, augmented by user forums and Ask an Expert features.
For example, just in the course of making a brochure from a template, the user has to answer the questions that tighten his brief and reduce the probability that he’s wasting his time and money: Who’s it for? What do you want them to do? What’s the most persuasive way to get them to do that? – questions any ad guy would ask in his sleep but a nonprofit user has most likely never considered.
Here’s where you come in: we need a forward-thinking partner to support building this radical solution. We recently received a grant from the New York Times Foundation – but there is much more to do to get this up and running.
This is an unusual and exciting opportunity to demonstrate how the skills you have perfected for your corporate clients can be applied to extend and amplify positive change – on a broad scale. Or perhaps you have clients who would see the virtue of extending their corporate responsibility in this very visible direction.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Never heard of them? That’s the part that could make you cry. With all their passion, these organizations will never accomplish all they should – simply because they lack the basic communications skills you and I learned as ad cubs.
But here’s the happy ending:
The Cyrano Project, a nonprofit founded by communications professionals, has a plan to change all that. Our mission is to help nonprofits tell their stories eloquently and effectively. We started helping them one by one – but we’ll never reach them all. Pro bono work is not the answer. Consulting is not the answer.
The answer is a radical new way to deliver the expertise of communications professionals to the fingertips of thousands of nonprofits across the country - over the Internet. Cyrano’s SolutionBuilder on the web is being designed to incorporate tools, worksheets, how-tos and templates that have best practices built in, augmented by user forums and Ask an Expert features.
For example, just in the course of making a brochure from a template, the user has to answer the questions that tighten his brief and reduce the probability that he’s wasting his time and money: Who’s it for? What do you want them to do? What’s the most persuasive way to get them to do that? – questions any ad guy would ask in his sleep but a nonprofit user has most likely never considered.
Here’s where you come in: we need a forward-thinking partner to support building this radical solution. We recently received a grant from the New York Times Foundation – but there is much more to do to get this up and running.
This is an unusual and exciting opportunity to demonstrate how the skills you have perfected for your corporate clients can be applied to extend and amplify positive change – on a broad scale. Or perhaps you have clients who would see the virtue of extending their corporate responsibility in this very visible direction.
I look forward to hearing from you.
PSA's at MOMA
Every June at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP.com) holds a festival of the best commercials made that year. The selected spots are entered into MOMA’s permanent collection. Yes, some spots are so good they are considered worthy of being included in one of the world’s most important art collections.
This year Cyrano’s Michael Pollock was invited to join the panel of judges selecting the PSAs – the nonprofit spots. He joined a distinguished group at New York’s swank Soho House, that included Jimmy Siegel, who does the advertising for Hillary Clinton, and leaders from the Partnership for Drug Free America. Winners will be announced by AICP at MOMA on June 5th.
This year Cyrano’s Michael Pollock was invited to join the panel of judges selecting the PSAs – the nonprofit spots. He joined a distinguished group at New York’s swank Soho House, that included Jimmy Siegel, who does the advertising for Hillary Clinton, and leaders from the Partnership for Drug Free America. Winners will be announced by AICP at MOMA on June 5th.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Cyrano helps clarify NFTE's value proposition
Here's what David Nelson, Chief Operating Officer of NFTE said about Cyrano's work for them:
"The Cyrano Project worked with the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) on defining and honing our main message for communications. In the process of learning about NFTE and its work, the consultants demonstrated real understanding of our organization’s mission and came up with strategic insights which had impact beyond the message itself.
The Cyrano Project helped our organization understand itself better and helped us resolve fundamental questions which are leading us to clarify our basic value proposition, as well as how we express it through messaging. This will lead us to more powerful promotion of our programs and enable us to attract more volunteers and donors over time.
I would recommend The Cyrano Project to any organization seeking thoughtful analysis and stronger communications. (Cyrano) did a superb job."
"The Cyrano Project worked with the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) on defining and honing our main message for communications. In the process of learning about NFTE and its work, the consultants demonstrated real understanding of our organization’s mission and came up with strategic insights which had impact beyond the message itself.
The Cyrano Project helped our organization understand itself better and helped us resolve fundamental questions which are leading us to clarify our basic value proposition, as well as how we express it through messaging. This will lead us to more powerful promotion of our programs and enable us to attract more volunteers and donors over time.
I would recommend The Cyrano Project to any organization seeking thoughtful analysis and stronger communications. (Cyrano) did a superb job."
Monday, May 21, 2007
Help us show how technology can save the world
The heart of where Cyrano is headed is our SolutionBuilder. There are tens of thousands of nonprofits doing valuable and important work to help kids and the poor, to support education and health initiatives, to save the environment and to keep dance theatre and the arts alive and flourishing. They are all good at what they do - but they don't have the resources to get their stories out effectively. And unless they can do that, they won't get the support and attention they need and deserve. Bringing them that support will radically effect the impact their programs can have.
Here's the big idea. We will bring the expertise of communications professionals to the fingertips of thousands of nonprofits across the country - over the Internet. Cyrano’s SolutionBuilder on the web is being designed to incorporate outcomes-based tools, worksheets, how-tos and templates to help create effective marketing plans and materials. These will be augmented by user forums and Ask an Expert features.
Dear reader: do you know a forward-thinking technology leader who will see the possibilities and support the implementation of SolutionBuilder? This is an unusual opportunity to demonstrate how technology can be used to extend and amplify positive change. Please introduce us.
Did you know that the nonprofit sector in the US is the sixth largest economy in the world? With over a trillion dollars of annual revenue? It is big. Very big. Our tools will be in daily use among the staffers and leaders of nonprofits. Once Cyrano's SolutionBuilder is launched, it will be sustainable. As Mitch Kapor has noted, “Always on my mind, in all my involvement is, how is it going to be sustainable?” he said. “I am a big believer that begging is not the right business model." And so are we - but we need a farsighted partner to join with us in getting it to the next stage. Anyone?
Here's the big idea. We will bring the expertise of communications professionals to the fingertips of thousands of nonprofits across the country - over the Internet. Cyrano’s SolutionBuilder on the web is being designed to incorporate outcomes-based tools, worksheets, how-tos and templates to help create effective marketing plans and materials. These will be augmented by user forums and Ask an Expert features.
Dear reader: do you know a forward-thinking technology leader who will see the possibilities and support the implementation of SolutionBuilder? This is an unusual opportunity to demonstrate how technology can be used to extend and amplify positive change. Please introduce us.
Did you know that the nonprofit sector in the US is the sixth largest economy in the world? With over a trillion dollars of annual revenue? It is big. Very big. Our tools will be in daily use among the staffers and leaders of nonprofits. Once Cyrano's SolutionBuilder is launched, it will be sustainable. As Mitch Kapor has noted, “Always on my mind, in all my involvement is, how is it going to be sustainable?” he said. “I am a big believer that begging is not the right business model." And so are we - but we need a farsighted partner to join with us in getting it to the next stage. Anyone?
Friday, May 18, 2007
Connecting corporations with activists
I was recently introduced to David Sauvage, the director of a very promising documentary film called Carissa. http://www.carissaproject.com
Here's the story:
Years ago, Carissa was abandoned in the lobby of the juvenile hall in Fresno. She ran away from group homes and ended up on the streets. Homeless and alone, she begged and stole to feed herself. Foster care ignored her. The juvenile justice system failed her. With no one to turn to, she was taken to "Motel Drive," a street in Fresno known for prostitution, and told what to do.
She was twelve years old.
Amazingly, Carissa turned her life around. Today she is a graduate student at UCLA, earning a law degree and an MBA - at the same time. Recently she began speaking to kids in juvenile hall, showing them it is possible not only to survive, but to thrive.
I knew that a certain mobile phone company was interested the issue of teen homelessness. It was a simple matter for Cyrano to put the them together with David and Carissa. Now they are talking about how they can work together to finish the film and get it seen where it can make a difference.
Here's the story:
Years ago, Carissa was abandoned in the lobby of the juvenile hall in Fresno. She ran away from group homes and ended up on the streets. Homeless and alone, she begged and stole to feed herself. Foster care ignored her. The juvenile justice system failed her. With no one to turn to, she was taken to "Motel Drive," a street in Fresno known for prostitution, and told what to do.
She was twelve years old.
Amazingly, Carissa turned her life around. Today she is a graduate student at UCLA, earning a law degree and an MBA - at the same time. Recently she began speaking to kids in juvenile hall, showing them it is possible not only to survive, but to thrive.
I knew that a certain mobile phone company was interested the issue of teen homelessness. It was a simple matter for Cyrano to put the them together with David and Carissa. Now they are talking about how they can work together to finish the film and get it seen where it can make a difference.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
What people are saying about The Cyrano Project
“The Cyrano Project [can] become a leader in helping nonprofits to create effective communication strategies…I applaud your commitment and the passion you bring to it.”
Michael Clark
President Nonprofit Coordinating Committee
“Cyrano is a truly unique organization positioned to fill a large void in the nonprofit world.”President Nonprofit Coordinating Committee
Jerry Colonna, Sarah Holloway
Hudson Heights Partners Management consultants to nonprofits
Hudson Heights Partners Management consultants to nonprofits
“Having affordable access to The Cyrano Project’s web-based tools and resources as well as its face-to-face Skills Workshops will provide us with the assistance we need to improve our communications work.”
Cheri Walsh
Managing Director Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
Virgin Mobile
MOUSE
Cooke Center for Learning and Development
The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
American Red Cross in Greater NY
Managing Director Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
“Without the support and inspiration of business-minded strategies available to help streamline marketing and communications, amazing organizations will continue to struggle to get their messages out. We wholeheartedly believe in Cyrano’s mission.”
Howard Handler, Chief Marketing OfficerVirgin Mobile
“My organization (MOUSE) specifically works to promote the use of technology in urban public schools, so as a “champion of technology,” I am particularly impressed with Cyrano’s SolutionBuilder.”
Carole Wacey, Executive DirectorMOUSE
“They [The Cyrano Project] facilitated the creation of a central message and positioning for our organization that seemed natural and organic.”
Michael Termini, Executive DirectorCooke Center for Learning and Development
“I thought you and your colleagues did a superb job on this (messaging) project!”
David Nelson, Chief Operating OfficerThe National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
“To get ideas and tips from practicing professionals without the involvement of consultants will make an enormous difference.”
Sharon McGavin, Former Chief Marketing Officer and DevelopmentAmerican Red Cross in Greater NY
Just do it
As posted on Conscious Commerce on April 16th 2007
I spoke last week with a senior ad executive who told me that her company had won a substantial global piece of business because they had been able to provide – on request - an existing CSR presentation that addressed all aspects of their business and client relationships. None of their competitors had established a CSR point of view. Their big thinking had paid off handsomely with a relatively small amount of effort.
I suggest that all new business and client relationships should by default include an understanding of the CSR positions of both sides. And all corporate departmental planning and budgeting should be required to include a CSR component. This can start small – it needn’t be hard. As Sam says it can take its cue from shareholders and employees – this has the potential for dramatically improving those bonds of loyalty. Weave it into the existing systems of a business and it will become engrained. It will make managers and buyers feel good and it will make them think anew about their company’s position in the larger world.
The upside is huge for corporations and for the world.
Michael Pollock
I spoke last week with a senior ad executive who told me that her company had won a substantial global piece of business because they had been able to provide – on request - an existing CSR presentation that addressed all aspects of their business and client relationships. None of their competitors had established a CSR point of view. Their big thinking had paid off handsomely with a relatively small amount of effort.
I suggest that all new business and client relationships should by default include an understanding of the CSR positions of both sides. And all corporate departmental planning and budgeting should be required to include a CSR component. This can start small – it needn’t be hard. As Sam says it can take its cue from shareholders and employees – this has the potential for dramatically improving those bonds of loyalty. Weave it into the existing systems of a business and it will become engrained. It will make managers and buyers feel good and it will make them think anew about their company’s position in the larger world.
The upside is huge for corporations and for the world.
Michael Pollock
Are Nonprofits Falling Out of Love with Printing?
As posted on In The Balance Blog on April 25th 2005
Nonprofits love print. Mostly for historical or emotional reasons. A nice brochure or an annual report provides tangible validation to themselves of their existence. This is often enough in itself, judging by the boxes full of undistributed and out-dated printed materials so many of them have lining their offices. I can say this – I run a nonprofit myself and am as guilty of this as any.
Click here to read the rest of the article
Nonprofits love print. Mostly for historical or emotional reasons. A nice brochure or an annual report provides tangible validation to themselves of their existence. This is often enough in itself, judging by the boxes full of undistributed and out-dated printed materials so many of them have lining their offices. I can say this – I run a nonprofit myself and am as guilty of this as any.
Click here to read the rest of the article
Technology Guru Joins Cyrano Board of Directors
From Cyrano News May 2007
The Cyrano Project's newest Board member is Erich Morisse. Erich is responsible for financial services strategy worldwide at Red Hat, one of the largest and most recognized companies dedicated to open source software and the largest distributor of the Linux operating system. He joined the company in 2003, working primarily with Wall Street customers and leading the solution architects teams for the East and Canada.
Erich is fascinated by the opportunities technology offers to small organizations to communicate with their communities.
"The rapid level of innovation can be scary, but there is actually an extraordinary amount that's easy to use. Even small organizations, if they are clear on what they want to communicate, can get much further by using technology. This is where The Cyrano Project fits in. I look forward to the opportunity to help small and medium-sized organizations talk to the community they serve, as well as figure out ways to better serve them."
"We're in the middle of a media distribution channel revolution," says Erich. "With technology, at a very low cost someone can put out an announcement to the world - whether anyone will see it is another matter."
Erich is a great addition to the Cyrano Project Board, bringing technical as well as business expertise. He has also been a research scientist, entrepreneur, and textbook author. He holds an MBA from Columbia University, and a BA in Computer Science and Anthropology from Drew University.
The Cyrano Project's newest Board member is Erich Morisse. Erich is responsible for financial services strategy worldwide at Red Hat, one of the largest and most recognized companies dedicated to open source software and the largest distributor of the Linux operating system. He joined the company in 2003, working primarily with Wall Street customers and leading the solution architects teams for the East and Canada.
Erich is fascinated by the opportunities technology offers to small organizations to communicate with their communities.
"The rapid level of innovation can be scary, but there is actually an extraordinary amount that's easy to use. Even small organizations, if they are clear on what they want to communicate, can get much further by using technology. This is where The Cyrano Project fits in. I look forward to the opportunity to help small and medium-sized organizations talk to the community they serve, as well as figure out ways to better serve them."
"We're in the middle of a media distribution channel revolution," says Erich. "With technology, at a very low cost someone can put out an announcement to the world - whether anyone will see it is another matter."
Erich is a great addition to the Cyrano Project Board, bringing technical as well as business expertise. He has also been a research scientist, entrepreneur, and textbook author. He holds an MBA from Columbia University, and a BA in Computer Science and Anthropology from Drew University.
Brain Storm with us in The Cyrano Project Salon Online
From Cyrano News May 2007
Question: What do you call a discussion between an executive director, an advertising consultant, a nonprofit development officer, a nonprofit staffer and a technology specialist?
A: "You might want to try Google Calendar for the events, and consider building on PBwiki for the website." | |
Join The Cyrano Project Online Salon
I invite you to join a select group of nonprofit and communications professionals in developing The Cyrano Project’s new Online Salon.
It’s a forum set up to further The Cyrano Project’s mission to help nonprofits tell their stories eloquently and effectively: a place to exchange ideas, pose questions, suggest answers and recommend resources.
Advertising, media and marketing professionals: this is an easy and valuable way to bring your own skills to help good causes do more of their good work. Nonprofit professionals: find out what’s worked for others, and share your own experience.
It is easy to join and completely free. Click here to join.
Once you’ve joined, please participate actively. Like a NY party, it will start slow and fill up when people see how good it is!
You will be in at the beginning: we are starting this resource from scratch and together we will set the tone and provide the value. We’ll discuss communications needs and hopes and fears and dreams. Experience of web communities tells us that those that start small and organic are the ones that will succeed. So please join the conversation - we want to hear from you.
Messages can be submitted by any member and will be moderated so that anything off topic, or offensive, will be screened out. You can define in your profile whether you want to get an email every time a message is posted or in a daily digest or whether you just want to read posts on the website.
Click here to join. You will need to create a Google account in order to join the group. It is really quite easy. If clicking the url does not automatically open a browser window you may have to copy and paste it. I know you will figure it out.
See you in The Cyrano Project Salon
All the best
Michael Pollock
PS If clicking the link doesn't work for you, please copy this url and paste it into your browser. That should do the trick.
http://groups.google.com/group/the-cyrano-project-salon
What if...?
If every nonprofit
had the power to communicate
more effectively, they
could
build their audiences,
raise more money,
recruit more volunteers,
help more people,
do more
and do it better.
What you can do to help nonprofits do better
If you’re a new media or technology company, Cyrano seeks your partnership in a transforming idea: the opportunity to demonstrate technology’s power to help those who do good, do better.
If you’re a communications professional, contact us to tell us your skills and interests. We’ll connect you with nonprofits that can use your help.
If you’re a forward-thinking foundation, you can offer The Cyrano Project's services to your grantees, benefiting them – and the entire nonprofit sector.
If you’re a communications professional, contact us to tell us your skills and interests. We’ll connect you with nonprofits that can use your help.
If you’re a forward-thinking foundation, you can offer The Cyrano Project's services to your grantees, benefiting them – and the entire nonprofit sector.
Our Distinguished Advisory Council
Peter v. Z. Cobb
Vice President, International Center for Transitional Justice
Scott Elias
Managing Director, Livingworks, Founder Nantan.com
Connie Garrido
Senior Partner, Director, The WOW Factory, MindShare
Cynthia Round
EVP, Brand Strategy & Marketing, United Way of America
Stefan Sagmeister
Designer
Stacy Smollin Schwartz
Marketing Director, Virgin Mobile
Linda Kaplan Thaler
CEO, The Kaplan Thaler Group
Vice President, International Center for Transitional Justice
Scott Elias
Managing Director, Livingworks, Founder Nantan.com
Connie Garrido
Senior Partner, Director, The WOW Factory, MindShare
Cynthia Round
EVP, Brand Strategy & Marketing, United Way of America
Stefan Sagmeister
Designer
Stacy Smollin Schwartz
Marketing Director, Virgin Mobile
Linda Kaplan Thaler
CEO, The Kaplan Thaler Group
Cyrano Works - December 2006
Cyrano Works
* The Cooke Center for Learning and Development
We continue our relationship with Cooke, photographing events and working on pre-production to produce a compelling five-minute video for their 20th anniversary Gala.
* New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG)
Cyrano helped NYRAG create advertising. "Don’t Just Give, Give Smart:" the line that promoted their Donors Guide to Gulf Coast Relief.
* National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
Cyrano researchers and strategists are working to help NFTE to strengthen its marketing program to donors and other key stakeholders.
* NPower
Cyrano helped the NPower team find the most effective way to communicate the benefits of their new and revolutionary IT Basic service to nonprofit organizations.
* The Cooke Center for Learning and Development
We continue our relationship with Cooke, photographing events and working on pre-production to produce a compelling five-minute video for their 20th anniversary Gala.
* New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG)
Cyrano helped NYRAG create advertising. "Don’t Just Give, Give Smart:" the line that promoted their Donors Guide to Gulf Coast Relief.
* National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
Cyrano researchers and strategists are working to help NFTE to strengthen its marketing program to donors and other key stakeholders.
* NPower
Cyrano helped the NPower team find the most effective way to communicate the benefits of their new and revolutionary IT Basic service to nonprofit organizations.
Communications Bootcamp
From Cyrano News December 2006
Cyrano offered the first of what will be a series of four Communications Planning Skills Workshops at New York’s Nonprofit Coordinating Committee (NPCC/NY) this fall. Within a day of its posting, 75 nonprofit professionals signed-up for only 20 spots, a clear indicator that there’s a huge demand from nonprofits for help in creating communication strategies and developing marketing concepts.
Effective Communications - What’s the point?
Effective communications have to be designed to effect change. Nonprofits must reach diverse groups – funders, clients, audiences with messages that will lead to desired actions. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Connect the dots
Before the workshop, attendees felt that a sufficient reason for communicating was to “get their message out” or “increase visibility.” By the time the workshop was done, they were connecting communications goals directly to specific business or organizational goals. It’s as simple as ABC: we want to persuade A to come on board and give B dollars in C months. Now that is a clear communications goal.
Happy warriors
Reactions to the workshop:
“Clarified the relation between business goals and the focus of communication.”
“Excellent. Easy to understand and apply to my organization.”
“Great job, very strategic and outside of the usual ‘speak.’”
Cyrano offered the first of what will be a series of four Communications Planning Skills Workshops at New York’s Nonprofit Coordinating Committee (NPCC/NY) this fall. Within a day of its posting, 75 nonprofit professionals signed-up for only 20 spots, a clear indicator that there’s a huge demand from nonprofits for help in creating communication strategies and developing marketing concepts.
Effective Communications - What’s the point?
Effective communications have to be designed to effect change. Nonprofits must reach diverse groups – funders, clients, audiences with messages that will lead to desired actions. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Connect the dots
Before the workshop, attendees felt that a sufficient reason for communicating was to “get their message out” or “increase visibility.” By the time the workshop was done, they were connecting communications goals directly to specific business or organizational goals. It’s as simple as ABC: we want to persuade A to come on board and give B dollars in C months. Now that is a clear communications goal.
Happy warriors
Reactions to the workshop:
“Clarified the relation between business goals and the focus of communication.”
“Excellent. Easy to understand and apply to my organization.”
“Great job, very strategic and outside of the usual ‘speak.’”
Cyrano's Big Idea
Our Big Idea is to provide nonprofits with user-led, interactive modules that start from questions or keywords and lead to toolkits, worksheets, templates, and how-to’s, all on the Internet.
SolutionBuilder will include modules for specific communication problems, for planning, and for printing: brochures, logos, and mission statements are a few of the things nonprofits will be able to create online. Not only will nonprofit users get work done with the help of SolutionBuilder, and printed material with GetItPrinted, they will also – by osmosis – learn smarter approaches – all at lower costs.
This program has the generous support of The New York Times Company Foundation.
For more about how technology can be used to strengthen nonprofits, go to
http://cyranoproject.blogspot.com/2007/05/technology-can-save-world.html
SolutionBuilder will include modules for specific communication problems, for planning, and for printing: brochures, logos, and mission statements are a few of the things nonprofits will be able to create online. Not only will nonprofit users get work done with the help of SolutionBuilder, and printed material with GetItPrinted, they will also – by osmosis – learn smarter approaches – all at lower costs.
This program has the generous support of The New York Times Company Foundation.
For more about how technology can be used to strengthen nonprofits, go to
http://cyranoproject.blogspot.com/2007/05/technology-can-save-world.html
Articulating a vision for Cooke Center
From Cyrano News June 2006
“Working with The Cyrano Project was a pleasure. They did not come in and impose their vision, but helped us to articulate ours. They facilitated the creation of a central message and positioning for our organization that seemed natural and organic, something that grew from who we are, rather than something grafted on.”
Michael Termini, President, Cooke Center for Learning and Development. NYC
“Working with The Cyrano Project was a pleasure. They did not come in and impose their vision, but helped us to articulate ours. They facilitated the creation of a central message and positioning for our organization that seemed natural and organic, something that grew from who we are, rather than something grafted on.”
Michael Termini, President, Cooke Center for Learning and Development. NYC
Cyrano Works - June 2006
Cyrano Works
~for the Cooke Center for Learning & Development, an organization devoted to helping children with learning disabilities. Cyrano is helping the Cooke clarify their main message to a variety of audiences, including teachers, principals, parents and donors.
~for Citizens for NYC, an organization that reaches, teaches, strengthens and funds over 12,000 grass roots groups. Cyrano crafted alternate ways to communicate to a key constituency and tested them in a focus group of wealthy potential donors. The results were most enlightening.
~for the Cooke Center for Learning & Development, an organization devoted to helping children with learning disabilities. Cyrano is helping the Cooke clarify their main message to a variety of audiences, including teachers, principals, parents and donors.
~for Citizens for NYC, an organization that reaches, teaches, strengthens and funds over 12,000 grass roots groups. Cyrano crafted alternate ways to communicate to a key constituency and tested them in a focus group of wealthy potential donors. The results were most enlightening.
Internal Communications expert joins Cyrano Board
From Cyrano News June 2006
Meet Deborah Galle, internal communications expert, winner of 2006 Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award, and newest member of the Cyrano Board of Trustees.
Deborah L. Galle, is Manager of Corporate Communications at Time Warner, and the Cyrano Project’s newest board member.
“I think the Cyrano Project may be the answer to enabling people in other non-profits to really make a difference,” says Deborah.
An experienced fundraiser and consultant in the non-profit world, Deborah brings to The Cyrano Project’s board the passion and commitment that won her this year’s Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award at Time Warner, where she was honored for her work at Montefiore Hospital Medical Center. There she has raised over $1 million for a host of pediatric and family programs, including the opening of a new children’s hospital in 2001. And she has been instrumental in bringing in new volunteers that are as passionate and committed as she.
Deborah’s focus is on getting the message right. “I think that delivering the right message the right way can make you or break you. It can make something so successful that would have been mediocre,” she says.
Deborah also believes that non-profits need to pay more attention to long-term planning. “Some non-profits go from event to event,” she says, “but they don’t look at the overall goals . . . It’s not just the luncheon ladies getting together and throwing a party. It’s different now. It’s marketing. And most organizations need help with that.”
As part of the team that coordinates content and partnership across all eight divisions of Time Warner, Deborah has plenty of experience in getting people on the same page. “If all the different pieces work together,” she says, “the product in the end is much more successful.”
Meet Deborah Galle, internal communications expert, winner of 2006 Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award, and newest member of the Cyrano Board of Trustees.
Deborah L. Galle, is Manager of Corporate Communications at Time Warner, and the Cyrano Project’s newest board member.
“I think the Cyrano Project may be the answer to enabling people in other non-profits to really make a difference,” says Deborah.
An experienced fundraiser and consultant in the non-profit world, Deborah brings to The Cyrano Project’s board the passion and commitment that won her this year’s Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award at Time Warner, where she was honored for her work at Montefiore Hospital Medical Center. There she has raised over $1 million for a host of pediatric and family programs, including the opening of a new children’s hospital in 2001. And she has been instrumental in bringing in new volunteers that are as passionate and committed as she.
Deborah’s focus is on getting the message right. “I think that delivering the right message the right way can make you or break you. It can make something so successful that would have been mediocre,” she says.
Deborah also believes that non-profits need to pay more attention to long-term planning. “Some non-profits go from event to event,” she says, “but they don’t look at the overall goals . . . It’s not just the luncheon ladies getting together and throwing a party. It’s different now. It’s marketing. And most organizations need help with that.”
As part of the team that coordinates content and partnership across all eight divisions of Time Warner, Deborah has plenty of experience in getting people on the same page. “If all the different pieces work together,” she says, “the product in the end is much more successful.”
Nonprofits play a vital role
From Cyrano News June 2006
Today’s nonprofits perform vital roles in solving huge problems – natural and man-made – and they offer ways for people to become engaged, energized and effective in improving their own lives. The more non-profits can communicate their stories, the more far-reaching their efforts will be – and that’s where Cyrano comes in. A story well told, and to the right audience, can help attract the vital funds a nonprofit needs to succeed.
Today’s nonprofits perform vital roles in solving huge problems – natural and man-made – and they offer ways for people to become engaged, energized and effective in improving their own lives. The more non-profits can communicate their stories, the more far-reaching their efforts will be – and that’s where Cyrano comes in. A story well told, and to the right audience, can help attract the vital funds a nonprofit needs to succeed.
Why you should support The Cyrano Project
From Holiday appeal - Winter 2005
As you plan your year-end charitable contributions, please consider The Cyrano Project, and help us help nonprofits to do more of what they do so well.
By supporting The Cyrano Project, you will be casting a wide net and helping many vital organizations get more bang for their buck. With more effective communications, they’ll be able to raise more money, recruit more volunteers, and serve more people.
Think of it this way: a donation to The Cyrano Project can actually make your gifts to other organizations go further.
From hurricanes in the American South to earthquakes in Pakistan and India, 2005 has been a strong reminder of the worldwide needs of nonprofits when disaster strikes. But there are thousands of other organizations – educational, social, cultural – which need help, too.
To make your donation safely online using a credit card, click here. Or simply send a check to The Cyrano Project, 771 West End Avenue, Suite 5A, New York, NY 10025.
The Cyrano Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Warm regards - and many thanks to all our wonderful supporters,
Michael Pollock
Founder
As you plan your year-end charitable contributions, please consider The Cyrano Project, and help us help nonprofits to do more of what they do so well.
By supporting The Cyrano Project, you will be casting a wide net and helping many vital organizations get more bang for their buck. With more effective communications, they’ll be able to raise more money, recruit more volunteers, and serve more people.
Think of it this way: a donation to The Cyrano Project can actually make your gifts to other organizations go further.
From hurricanes in the American South to earthquakes in Pakistan and India, 2005 has been a strong reminder of the worldwide needs of nonprofits when disaster strikes. But there are thousands of other organizations – educational, social, cultural – which need help, too.
To make your donation safely online using a credit card, click here. Or simply send a check to The Cyrano Project, 771 West End Avenue, Suite 5A, New York, NY 10025.
The Cyrano Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are tax-deductible.
Warm regards - and many thanks to all our wonderful supporters,
Michael Pollock
Founder
David Turnley on Cyrano
From Cyrano News October 2005
"During the war in Kosovo, I was faced with a question that also faces non-profits: how do I contribute beyond just being a witness?
The Cyrano Project can help to answer that question so that the stories get told to people who can make a difference."
David Turnley
Pulitzer-Prize winning photojournalist,
filmmaker, author
"During the war in Kosovo, I was faced with a question that also faces non-profits: how do I contribute beyond just being a witness?
The Cyrano Project can help to answer that question so that the stories get told to people who can make a difference."
David Turnley
Pulitzer-Prize winning photojournalist,
filmmaker, author
Cyrano Works - October 2005
Cyrano Works
~ for the Henry Street Settlement, a leader in social services and urban renewal since 1893. Cyrano is conducting a communications audit across all divisions. Next, Cyrano will make recommendations on how to strengthen communications to the organization’s wide-ranging audiences in health care, housing, workforce development, day care and the arts.
~ for The Legal Aid Society, the oldest and largest public interest law firm in the country. Cyrano helped to create a video honoring the work of the Skadden Fellows working at Legal Aid, who have created innovative programs for New York’s low-income residents.
~ for I Go/Chicago Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago’s nonprofit car-sharing service. Cyrano advised I Go on the best way to use time donated by a major Chicago ad agency – what to ask for and how to team with agency people to get the most effective work.
~ for the Henry Street Settlement, a leader in social services and urban renewal since 1893. Cyrano is conducting a communications audit across all divisions. Next, Cyrano will make recommendations on how to strengthen communications to the organization’s wide-ranging audiences in health care, housing, workforce development, day care and the arts.
~ for The Legal Aid Society, the oldest and largest public interest law firm in the country. Cyrano helped to create a video honoring the work of the Skadden Fellows working at Legal Aid, who have created innovative programs for New York’s low-income residents.
~ for I Go/Chicago Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago’s nonprofit car-sharing service. Cyrano advised I Go on the best way to use time donated by a major Chicago ad agency – what to ask for and how to team with agency people to get the most effective work.
Legal expert in new media joins Cyrano Board of Trustees
From Cyrano News October 2005
Cyrano’s board has a new level of media experience and expertise with the addition of Jerrold B. Speigel, head of the Technology, eCommerce and Privacy Practice Group at the law firm, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein and Selz.
Jerry’s broad background in media and technology are perfectly suited to Cyrano’s mission. His clients include online publishers, software developers, website developers and eCommerce firms, as well as traditional ad agencies, production companies, filmmakers and publishers.
A graduate of the NYU School of Law, Jerry is a much-quoted expert on new-media legal issues and writes regularly for the World eBusiness law Report.
Cyrano’s board has a new level of media experience and expertise with the addition of Jerrold B. Speigel, head of the Technology, eCommerce and Privacy Practice Group at the law firm, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein and Selz.
Jerry’s broad background in media and technology are perfectly suited to Cyrano’s mission. His clients include online publishers, software developers, website developers and eCommerce firms, as well as traditional ad agencies, production companies, filmmakers and publishers.
A graduate of the NYU School of Law, Jerry is a much-quoted expert on new-media legal issues and writes regularly for the World eBusiness law Report.
From message to materials: Cyrano pioneers Self-Learning Modules for nonprofits
From Cyrano News October 2005
To help non-profits tell the right stories to the right audiences, Cyrano is developing a series of computer-based self-learning modules. These SLMs, called SolutionBuilders, are designed for nonexperts. They guide the user through the ABCs of communications planning and media coverage, right down to step-by-step processes for creating specific tools such as websites and brochures.
Cursor-activated prompts guide the user through a path of choices leading to menus of practical “how-to” modules without ever losing sight of the core message.
The point of SolutionBuilders is to make the branding and strategic concepts behind the tools invisible. These are not mini-marketing courses. Instead, they simply guide the user to understand and define the bigger picture before moving to specific tools and techniques.
Cyrano SolutionBuilders are designed to:
- Help the user define communications objectives.
- Guide the user to appropriate communications tools.
- Provide a template for sharing and discussing messages and tools within the organization.
Self-learning for nonprofits
From Cyrano Project News Ocober 2005
Every nonprofit needs to be able to make clear to the funding and donor world – even to their own staff - who they are and what they do. We know that nonprofit staffers are not sitting around wishing that they were marketing experts or filmmakers. But they do wish that they had more money coming in and that they could catch the attention of more people who can help them.
At The Cyrano Project we are honing our online tools to help them do just these things for themselves. We are designing – with the help of some enormously bright people – a self-learning system that will help nonprofit staffers to make sure their message is clear, focused and persuasive, and that they are talking to the right people.
We also continue to help organizations one-on-one. Every time we work with one, we learn something that will make our set of tools smarter and more valuable.
The catastrophe in the South reminds us all of the vital work nonprofits do when the worst occurs. The effect the telling of their stories has had reaffirms our mission to get such stories told. Not just when they are headline news, but every day.
I hope that this newsletter will get you excited about what we are doing, because we can really use your help as we ramp up to make a meaningful impact. We ask forward thinking donors to join with us and help nonprofits to tell their stories more eloquently and effectively. There is a massive need. We look forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards,
Michael Pollock
Founder
Every nonprofit needs to be able to make clear to the funding and donor world – even to their own staff - who they are and what they do. We know that nonprofit staffers are not sitting around wishing that they were marketing experts or filmmakers. But they do wish that they had more money coming in and that they could catch the attention of more people who can help them.
At The Cyrano Project we are honing our online tools to help them do just these things for themselves. We are designing – with the help of some enormously bright people – a self-learning system that will help nonprofit staffers to make sure their message is clear, focused and persuasive, and that they are talking to the right people.
We also continue to help organizations one-on-one. Every time we work with one, we learn something that will make our set of tools smarter and more valuable.
The catastrophe in the South reminds us all of the vital work nonprofits do when the worst occurs. The effect the telling of their stories has had reaffirms our mission to get such stories told. Not just when they are headline news, but every day.
I hope that this newsletter will get you excited about what we are doing, because we can really use your help as we ramp up to make a meaningful impact. We ask forward thinking donors to join with us and help nonprofits to tell their stories more eloquently and effectively. There is a massive need. We look forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards,
Michael Pollock
Founder
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Webcasting is getting easier
If your nonprofit is doing a lot of events and presentations and want to record and stream them and mix in pre-edited material - there is an affordable tool for you.
I was just at the Streaming Media Expo and learned that finally there tools that a layperson can understand. A small portable studio can take multi camera signals and project on a screen and push the program out to the internet. And the controls are written so that a relative beginner can use it. There are more advanced features for the experienced user but you don't have to use them. And the price for this tiny little box is only around $3k.
Sadly there is still a lot of jargon out there. As I walked around the show - pretty much every stand was offering a Total Solution. To what I am not sure, but it sure was total. As the fellow who was demoing the portable studio kept on saying, "And this sure is pretty darn cool."
I was just at the Streaming Media Expo and learned that finally there tools that a layperson can understand. A small portable studio can take multi camera signals and project on a screen and push the program out to the internet. And the controls are written so that a relative beginner can use it. There are more advanced features for the experienced user but you don't have to use them. And the price for this tiny little box is only around $3k.
Sadly there is still a lot of jargon out there. As I walked around the show - pretty much every stand was offering a Total Solution. To what I am not sure, but it sure was total. As the fellow who was demoing the portable studio kept on saying, "And this sure is pretty darn cool."
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