Brand, Media, and AI: Practical Takeaways from the VVP Nonprofit Marketing Series

A Local Workshop with Big Takeaways

With limited staff, limited time, and limited budgets, marketing often feels like one more thing on an already full plate. That is why Hyfyve and the Vail Valley Partnership hosted a three-part nonprofit marketing series this past March. The workshops were designed to give local leaders strategies they could use right away to strengthen their brand, reach their audiences more effectively, and explore time-saving AI tools.

What’s in it for you? If you are leading a nonprofit, every hour counts. This recap distills the most practical insights from the series into bite-sized takeaways you can apply today.

Brand Foundations

Your brand is built on trust. When it’s anchored in clear values and consistent promises, people notice and they respond.

Takeaway: Lead with your values. Authenticity is what inspires donors, partners, and community members.

Micro-Exercise:

• Write down your top 3 organizational values.

• Turn each into a simple, donor-facing statement (e.g., We value transparency, We publish our financials every year).

• Use these as checkpoints for all future messaging.

Digital Media Strategies

The formula is simple: audience first, channel second, conversion third. Picking the right media mix isn’t about being everywhere, it’s about being where your audience already is.

Takeaway: Identify your audience before you invest in platforms. Let their habits guide your media strategy.

Micro-Exercise:

• Create a quick audience persona: name, age, top 3 interests, where they spend time online.

• Rank 3 channels your persona uses most.

• Pick one campaign idea and match it to that channel.

Leveraging AI Tools

AI isn’t a replacement for people, it’s a way to work smarter. From content drafting to campaign planning, AI can save time and spark ideas when used with the right frameworks.

Takeaway: Start small. Use AI for practical, repeatable tasks that free up your time for mission-driven work.

How to Use the PRIME Framework:

Think of PRIME as a checklist for better AI prompts.

• P (Persona): Tell the AI who it should act as.

• R (Role): Define what task you need it to do.

• I (Input): Provide the key information or context.

• M (Mission): State the goal or outcome you want.

• E (Expectation): Set the format, tone, or length.

By setting up these elements at the beginning of your workflow, you receive much clearer outputs, reach your goals more quickly, and save valuable time.

Micro-Exercise:

• Identify one weekly task that takes you over 30 minutes (e.g., social post drafting).

• Test using AI to create a first draft.

• Edit for tone and accuracy, your voice is always the final step.

 

Putting It All Together

Nonprofits do not have to choose between running programs and building visibility. By anchoring your brand in values, focusing your media strategy on your audience, and experimenting with simple AI tools, you can stretch your resources further and strengthen your impact.

Partnering for Community Impact

We are grateful to the Vail Valley Partnership for creating space to support local nonprofits. If your chamber is looking for fresh, practical programming for its members, HyFyve can help.