Does your nonprofit need communications services? Apply to PRSA Pittsburgh’s Public Service Project

UPDATE: RFP Deadline Extension
We want to allow adequate time for nonprofits to respond to our Public Service RFP. We’ve extended the application deadline to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020. Please submit your proposal to Kristen Wishon at ka.wishon@gmail.com.

By Kristen Wishon
PRSA Pittsburgh Public Service Chair

Check in with your nonprofit communicators: Chances are, they are not OK.

If they haven’t been laid off or furloughed, our nonprofit cohorts are facing unchartered territory in regard to communications challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many nonprofits are facing budget constraints due to decreased revenues from earned income streams, and cancellations of large fundraisers and other donor-engagement events. On the flip side, nonprofits in service industries are facing increased demand for services and constrained capacity.

All of these elements mean that communications professionals are pivoting their efforts to break through the noise and effectively communicate their changing needs and priorities to their audiences.

Not to mention the impact on smaller nonprofits, many of which are closing. We’re seeing this in our Pittsburgh community already. 

As a fellow nonprofit communications professional working in the sector since 2013, I can relate. 

At the end of the day, this is not a cookie-cutter situation for any nonprofit. However, all is not lost.

We want to help our city’s nonprofit communicators

Each year, PRSA Pittsburgh members engage in a public service project to support the communications efforts of an area nonprofit. As this year’s Public Service Lead, I think it’s more important than ever for us to rally around the Pittsburgh-area nonprofits that are in greatest need.

That’s why PRSA Pittsburgh is adjusting its annual public service project to assist with communications projects for area nonprofits deeply affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t want to guess or assume what our nonprofit community needs, so we’re now accepting responses to our RFP here. Here’s how we may be able to help:

• Planning and executing a communications strategy in response to the nonprofit’s current needs,
• Granting beneficiary designation at a PRSA Pittsburgh virtual event or events, and 
• Planning and executing a communications campaign to support a new fundraising initiative, new virtual events or programming; promoting a new initiative, etc.

Responses are due by Friday, May 8, 2020 now extended to Friday, May 22, 2020. Please share this opportunity with any colleagues who might find this partnership helpful.

PRSA Pittsburgh members: Join the Public Service Committee 

We can’t accomplish this project without the help of our members.

PRSA members can help review RFP responses, select the nonprofit project we undertake this year and help add the needed manpower to implement a project or campaign.

If you’re interested in joining the Public Service Committee, please reach out to me directly. 

Additionally, you can join me Monday, April 20 on PRSA Pittsburgh’s Instagram Live for the next edition of our “Screen to Screen” series. [Update: Watch the recorded version here.]

I will talk more about my experiences as a nonprofit communications director, provide advice to other nonprofit communicators and answer questions about this year’s public service project.