For a whole bunch of years, maps have helped individuals discover their approach. At this time, they’re a preferred software for organizations to point out their affect, spotlight their attain, allow content material discovery, and join with audiences in an attractive, visible approach.
Maps could be a nice visualization software for nonprofits and an attractive approach for supporters to attach with the causes they care about. That is necessary as extra organizations are vying to your viewers’s consideration.
Instruments like Google Maps and Google Earth present a free (or almost free) approach to create distinctive maps and embed them in your web site. Mapbox is simply one of many extra customizable instruments to amplify your mission.
Superior map expertise has streamlined the creation course of, so the sky actually is the restrict in relation to how you should use maps to assist make an affect. Listed here are 5 methods nonprofits use maps to assist their trigger.
1. Maps That Present a Want
This is among the commonest methods nonprofits are utilizing maps. From the Malala Fund’s World Nation Rating map to the Partnership for a More healthy America’s Meals Fairness Alternative Map, nonprofits are utilizing these mapping instruments for instance their affect and drive assist.
The good thing about utilizing a map to assist present the necessity is that there’s typically a whole lot of third-party knowledge you’ll be able to faucet into. As your nonprofit progresses towards its targets, these maps can even simply shift focus to point out your nonprofit’s affect.
2. Maps Can Present The place You Work
Many organizations use maps to focus on the place they’re doing work. Companions of the Americas and the Fee on Safety and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) are simply two examples.
Each organizations use coloration to point out their international affect whereas graying out areas the place they’re inactive. This permits customers to see the nonprofit’s affect and placement visually with out having to learn a whole lot of textual content.
An added good thing about one of these map is that it might probably present alternative for individuals drawn to a selected location as a substitute of a selected program or subject. CSCE and Companions of the Americas type and tag their content material by subject and nation to permit individuals to find the content material most related to their pursuits.
3. Maps That Energy Content material Discovery
For nonprofits with a whole lot of tales, paperwork or knowledge, maps can manage that data and assist audiences uncover new data. (Consider it nearly as a navigation or website search in map kind.)
ADL’s World A.T.L.A.S. does this utilizing knowledge and insurance policies to point out each the necessity for work and its affect.
4. Maps That Drive Donations
Utilizing tales to drive donations is essential, and organizations are at all times on the lookout for new methods to make use of the affect tales they’ve collected. With this in thoughts, I used to be fascinated with exploring this donation attraction from TechnoServe, inviting me to discover the tales of their work.
Creating donation asks associated to the story an individual is partaking with helps amplify the affect of your work. TechnoServe did an amazing job of this within the map expertise it offered as a part of its attraction.
5. Maps That Present Scale
Whereas maps can present scale or lack thereof attributable to their visible nature, I can see organizations with giant networks of volunteers or native workplaces creating maps to showcase their attain and function a listing for native contacts.
Lutheran Companies in America’s Community map is only one instance that emphasizes the dimensions it has to assist these in want all through the nation. This interactive map permits customers to see the dimensions of their community and simply entry native sources. NHPCO’s Discover a Supplier expertise is one other instance of a company utilizing a map as a useful resource for audiences to seek out native assist.
Have You Thought-about Including a Map to Your Digital Ecosystem?
Whereas maps typically have a number of advantages and can probably be used for extra than simply one of many above causes, it’s necessary to make sure that your map is usable throughout units.
Will maps substitute website search, navigation or extra text-based web sites sooner or later? I extremely doubt it, however they are often an necessary a part of your digital ecosystem. They create lively experiences for audiences to have interaction with and supply an easy-to-understand interface.
The previous weblog was offered by a person unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed inside don’t immediately replicate the ideas or opinions of NonProfit PRO.
