New Ad Campaign Promotes Minnesota Nonprofits' Essential Services

The Minneapolis Foundation and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits unveiled a print advertising campaign at the State Capitol on Jan. 28 that supports the work of Minnesota's nonprofits. The "Think Twice Before You Cut" ad campaign, which received initial funding from the foundation, asks citizens to contact their elected officials during the legislative session to voice their support for the work of nonprofits in their communities.

Since freezes on state government grants to many of the state's nonprofits were announced late in November, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has been advocating budget-balancing decisions using three tools: raising revenue, using reserves and cutting spending.

"During the legislative session we want to remind Minnesotans that government and nonprofits have long been partners in providing essential services that benefit all the state's residents," said Jon Pratt, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. "The state's budget-balancing decisions should not make the recession worse for those Minnesotans least able to weather the downturn, including low-income families, laid-off workers and other vulnerable populations."

"Nonprofits are in key partnerships with government in providing needed programs and services along with foundations, corporations and individual donors," said The Minneapolis Foundation CEO Emmett Carson. "We can't be under the illusion that individual donors, corporations and foundations will contribute enough money to replace government support for nonprofits."

The ad campaign consists of three print ads showing the consequences of cuts to nonprofit services. Photos of people holding signs dominate the ads. A child's sign reads, "If we cut funding for nonprofits, will you let me come to your house after school?" Another of a senior in a wheelchair says, "If we cut funding to nonprofits, will you bring me a hot meal tonight?" And the third shows a mother and two children. Her sign says, "If we cut funding to nonprofits, will you help me get a job to support my family?"

The first phase of the "Think Twice Before You Cut" ads are scheduled to run in newspapers in the Twin Cities and in several cities around the state beginning in late January 2002 and into the early part of February. They were created by the Kruskopf Olson ad agency in Minneapolis. The ads can be viewed and downloaded at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Web site at:
www.mncn.org/thinktwice.htm.

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