Developing and Using Effective Messaging

Member Only Date: 02/28/2012 Time: 12:00 PM – 03:00 PM Location: Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, 6889 Rowland Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344 MCF Member: Free

Online registration has closed. To register, please contact Chantel Karney at ckarney@mcf.org or 612.465.0715.

Please note that registration is limited to the first 40 registrants.

Sponsored by Margaret A. Cargill Foundation

Description: Messaging can be tricky. Get it wrong, and you risk missing your most important audiences or sounding like every other organization. Get it right, and you succinctly explain your work in a manner that is compelling and differentiates you from others.

In this interactive session organized by the ComMotion Network, you’ll learn different approaches to developing the best messages for your organization, how to use those messages, and how to judge whether you’ve gotten it “right.” We’ll look at the drivers of message development, how to get leadership buy-in to the process, and what other constituencies you might want to include in the process.

The session will be led by Sallie Gaines, Director of Communications, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. She will be joined by Rich Fischer, Global Communications Manager for the Medtronic Foundation, and Anne Rodenberg, Communications and Marketing Manager for the Catholic Community Foundation. All three have developed and used messages for and with a wide array of organizations.

Our hosts from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies are generously providing lunch for all attendees, so there will be ample time for networking, learning, and discussion.

ComMotion Network events are open to all MCF members with an interest in communications – whether you’re a full-time communications person or have communications responsibilities as just one of many in your foundation or corporate giving role. Join us!

Sallie L. Gaines serves as Director of Communications at the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies. Previously she was a senior vice president of Hill & Knowlton, a global public relations agency. There she led the media practice in the agency’s Chicago office, and worked with a wide array of clients on reputation management and visibility programs, as well as crisis communications. She also has more than 20 years of experience as a reporter/editor at the Chicago Tribune, covering mostly business and civic issues.

Sallie has a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago. She has been a visiting professor at both universities, as well as Northwestern University, teaching journalism and communications classes.

Rich Fischer is the Global Communications Manager for the Medtronic Foundation, the primary philanthropic channel for Medtronic, Inc. Rich develops and manages communications and marketing programs designed to strengthen relationships with Medtronic’s nonprofit partners, with the goal of improving access to quality healthcare and addressing the global burden of chronic disease. He also supports Medtronic’s community affairs and corporate citizenship activities. Before joining Medtronic, Rich worked for a number of Twin Cities’ public relations/advertising agencies. Rich holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.

Anne Rodenberg is Communications and Marketing Manager for the Catholic Community Foundation in St. Paul, the nation’s largest community foundation focused on Catholic philanthropy. She enjoys leading creative projects and taking ideas into action. Her 16-year career includes positions with WomenVenture, the Carlson School of Management, and Dunwoody College of Technology. She is an active member of IABC-Minnesota, for which she served three terms on the board and facilitated the Nonprofit Mastermind Group. She holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership at Augsburg College.

MCF Cancellation Policy: if you must cancel your attendance for this event, please contact Chantel Karney via email or at 612.465.0715 before February 24.