--- title: "Thursday Buzz: Extreme Makeover, Nonprofit Edition" id: "26008" type: "post" slug: "thursday-buzz-extreme-makeover-nonprofit-edition" published_at: "2014-11-13T19:24:46+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T13:03:14+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/11/13/thursday-buzz-extreme-makeover-nonprofit-edition/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/11/13/thursday-buzz-extreme-makeover-nonprofit-edition.md" excerpt: "A Florida nonprofit receives $100,000 in free marketing help, and looks all the snazzier for it. Also: A tool that can help you choose the right words." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Fundraising" - "Marketing" - "rebranding" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Thursday Buzz: Extreme Makeover, Nonprofit Edition [Chain Reaction (opens in a new tab)](http://www.mychainreaction.org/) , a nonprofit based in Pensacola, Florida, is seeing a chain reaction of its own, in the form of some major marketing help. The group, which focuses on boosting outcomes and confidence in teenagers, was the recipient of $100,000 in marketing services from [idgroup (opens in a new tab)](http://www.idgroupusa.com/) after winning the local marketing firm’s annual [Brand On Us (opens in a new tab)](http://www.idgroupusa.com/brandonus) contest. Among other things, Chain Reaction received: - a website and logo redesign - free advertising from local television and radio stations, newspapers, and billboards - strategy help that allowed the firm to boost its awareness and messaging “Instead of worrying about a website, I can focus on helping kids,” Kristin Fairchild, founder and executive director of Chain Reaction, [told the Pensacola News Journal (opens in a new tab)](http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2014/11/13/nonprofit-gets-free-image-makeover/18958343/) . Fairchild suggested that membership in the group would triple, thanks to the extra marketing. Other nonprofits looking for similar help are in the running for idgroup’s 2015 contest. Interested parties [can vote through this Survey Monkey page (opens in a new tab)](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BrandOnUs2015) . ### The Right Words Matter **According to a new online tool,** we should stop using the word “donate” in nonprofit marketing pitches. The reason? Too many other organizations are using it. “Bestow” might be a slightly better bet. Such is the take of [The Wordifier (opens in a new tab)](http://www.claxonmarketing.com/wordifier/) , a new Claxon Marketing online app that lets you know how often words show up in nonprofit marketing communications. “It’s pretty simple. You just enter a word into The Wordifier and it immediately lets you know whether you should stop using the word, proceed with caution or go for it,” [explains Kristina Leroux at Kivi’s Nonprofit Marketing Blog (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2014/11/12/so-excited-about-the-wordifier-and-you-should-be-too/) . “It also tells you the definition of the word, a breakdown of nonprofits who use that word, and a list of synonyms.” The result is that you get a wider picture of what’s fresh and what isn’t in the world of nonprofit marketing—and as a result, your message may stand out a little better. ### Other Links of Note **Know what’s driving a lot of BuzzFeed’s traffic these days?** If you said “email newsletters,” people would probably think you’re crazy. [But according to Poynter, you’d be correct (opens in a new tab)](http://www.poynter.org/mediawire/top-stories/280943/how-newsletters-became-one-of-buzzfeeds-top-sources-of-traffic/) . **Looking to build income from public speaking?** *Happy Black Woman*‘s Rosetta Thurman has been there, and [she has some tips to get you started (opens in a new tab)](http://happyblackwoman.com/5-steps-to-launch-your-speaking-business/) . **Sure, focus is great,** but are you missing the bigger picture in the process? *Inc.com* contributor Michael Schein suggests [it might be time to take the blinders off (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/michael-schein/how-being-focused-is-keeping-you-from-becoming-insanely-successful.html) . Chain Reaction’s redesigned website. (Screenshot) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Fundraising](https://associationsnow.com/tag/fundraising/) [#Marketing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/marketing/) [#rebranding](https://associationsnow.com/tag/rebranding/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: Florida Association of Free and Charitable ClinicsOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-florida-association-of-free-and-charitable-clinics/) - [Video2025 Summit Award Recipient: Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los AngelesOctober 3, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/10/03/2025-summit-award-recipient-building-owners-and-managers-association-of-greater-los-angeles/) - [VideoRecap from the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 19, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/19/recap-from-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoSneak Peek: Highlights from Day 2 of the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 14, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/14/sneak-peek-highlights-from-day-2-of-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F11%2F13%2Fthursday-buzz-extreme-makeover-nonprofit-edition%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !