Insights

What Nonprofits Can Learn From Bernie Sanders by Vanessa Wakeman, for Huffington Post
Regardless of your political propensity, nearly all of us can agree that Bernie Sanders has a wildly-enthusiastic following. How did he do it?
He’s not a celebrity. Yet, when Bernie Sanders walks into a room or steps behind a podium, his fans go absolutely wild. Their loyalty is enviable — and their passion is unmatched.

Reimagining Thought Leadership by Vanessa Wakeman, for Huffington Post
Webster’s Dictionary defines a thought leader as one whose views on a subject are taken to be authoritative and influential. I would agree with this updated definition with a slight refinement. In my opinion, a thought leader is an individual who is committed to contributing valuable, original thinking and ideas on a subject to benefit the greater good. The individual is in service to the idea, issue or innovation with the goal of fostering change.

Can Coca-Cola Salvage School System’s Brand Image?
Public-private partnerships are well established in various industries, but they represent a rare and new frontier in PR. But an endeavoring and ambitious collaboration between a major international corporation and a challenged public school district might be changing that.

My First Social Good Summit
I recently attended the Social Good Summit, a two-day, star-studded event held in September 2015 in New York City.
I am new to the nonprofit sector after having spent 14 years in the advertising world for publications such as Hearst Digital and AT&T. In my new role as Business Development Manager at The Wakeman Agency, I am always looking to learn more about the social change movement and attending the Social Good Summit was a great opportunity to get up close and personal with people who are moving the needle on important issues and other like-minded folks.

Mass Money Raising: Why Givers Latch onto Crowdfunding
If crowdsourcing in technology is like volunteerism or brainstorming on steroids, then crowdfunding is like altruistic generosity taken to new levels. But its potential impact on the field of fundraising could be giving some nonprofit organizations pause.

Five Tips to Raise Awareness of Your Social-Change Film
Though it may be rare for a social-change film to achieve big box-office numbers, that doesn’t mean organizations, nonprofits and indie artists should forego opportunities to raise the stakes of their cinematic endeavors.

When Bad Things Happen to Good Organizations
Bad things can happen to good organizations, just like they can happen to good people. Unintended consequences from deeply rooted issues, as well as unpredictable life events, can strike nonprofit organizations just like they do everyday individuals.

The Changing Role of the Event Planner
Job Vacancy – Event Planner: Coordinate events, booking entertainers, decorating facilities, ordering flowers, hiring wait staff and sampling menu. Serve as timekeeper and resource planner, managing invitations and assets (projectors, printers, lighting).

Going Back to School: Signs Your PR or Event Team Needs a Reboot
The Wakeman Agency’s “This Week in Social Change” feature takes a snapshot at high-impact headlines and happenings in the social-change space. We consistently mine the nonprofit and social-change landscape, assessing opportunities to learn from disruption in action, innovation in the works and even eye-opening missteps along the way.

This Week in Social Change
The Wakeman Agency’s “This Week in Social Change” feature takes a snapshot at high-impact headlines and happenings in the social-change space. We consistently mine the nonprofit and social-change landscape, assessing opportunities to learn from disruption in action, innovation in the works and even eye-opening missteps along the way.
We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and socially responsible companies that want to build influence and generate revenue for important social issues. Let’s talk about what that looks like for your organization.