Client
Easterseals
taking on disability together
We launched a campaign to make the Easterseals New Jersey brand more visible in order to reinforce the notion that Easterseals is a widely known and reputable organization. Our effort was awarded “Best Outdoor Ad Campaign of 2016” by New Jersey Ad Club.
“The airport should pay us to put them up!”
Situation
Easterseals New Jersey is a local chapter of a large national organization devoted to helping people with disabilities achieve their goals. Impending funding changes in New Jersey meant the future of the organization was uncertain. In the long term, they would need to rely more on private funding sources, so initially, our project was to develop a marketing strategy with a core focus on demonstrating relevance to key potential donor groups.
During the course of our Discovery work, however, we uncovered a more urgent problem: anxiety among employees and service recipients was eroding morale and confidence in the organization, which ultimately had a damaging effect on outcomes and reputation. The organization took most of the blame for these changes despite the fact that they were out of their control (unexpected loss of state funding).
Brand Pyramid
The brand focused on tradition and the building was undermining the effect of the more forward-thinking programming and exhibitions they were doing. We clarified the museum’s core values to Champion, Open, and Fresh, distilled and socialized the Brand Idea, and ran cultural alignment workshops covering all departments—from security to management. Our work served to drive both operational practice and a successful visual rebrand.
1. What is Easterseals?
Trusted and reliable state-wide organization that assists people with specialized needs achieve their goals (live, learn, work, and play).
2. How does Easterseals deliver its benefits?
- Comprehensive set of services through the life of the consumer
- Full spectrum of specialized needs
- One of the largest disabilities services organizations across NJ (consumers in all 21 counties)
- Ability to refer to other organizations if we aren’t able to provide a service
- Responsiveness (tailored to consumer needs)
- Invest above and beyond in the person we work with
- High staff skill level (more opportunities for staff training)
- Focus on whole person (health and wellness)
- Look above and beyond the basic mandate
- High level of commitment and dedication
- Stand with you
- Allow to live independent lives, not one-off
- Ethical (no compromise)
3. Why should I care? (Emotional drivers from donor’s perspective)
I feel …
- Trust
- Personal connection
- Fashionable/trendy
- Pride/prestige
- Benevolence
- Compassion
- Guilt
- Validation/acceptance
- Recognition
- Social benefits
(Other factors)
- Cultural
- Tax write-off
- Ego
- See R.O.I. (selfish)
- Believe it’s important (align values)
4. Core Values
- Warm
- Expert
- Respectful
5. Brand Idea
Enriching Lives
Discovery
We crafted our strategy with two goals in mind. First, we enlisted the collaboration of families and employees to solve the challenges facing Easterseals New Jersey so that it can continue its important work. Asking internal audiences to be part of the solution would combat feelings of victimization and help restore confidence in the organization among its closest brand ambassadors.
We crafted our strategy with two goals in mind. First, we enlisted the collaboration of families and employees to solve the challenges facing Easterseals New Jersey so that it can continue its important work. Asking internal audiences to be part of the solution would combat feelings of victimization and help restore confidence in the organization among its closest brand ambassadors.
Solution
The campaign we developed was called Life’s Moments and was based on the notion of agency. This is at the heart of the Easterseals’ mission: giving agency to people with disabilities so that they can experience and enjoy the special moments and milestones of life. Agency is also at the core of what our strategy asks of employees and families: to play an active role in the organization’s future. With this concept in mind, we developed the campaign’s headline: “I have a disability, but it doesn’t have me.”
We sought to get as much visibility as possible by the closest brand ambassadors to instill pride in the organization. We wanted them to encounter the campaign message and the Easterseals New Jersey brand often in order to reinforce the notion that Easterseals New Jersey is a widely known and reputable organization. With limited funds for distribution channels, we focused on a few specific vehicles:
- Using digital ads as a remarketing tool
- Posters distributed to all Easterseals New Jersey facilities
- Billboards in areas with high concentrations of consumers, sponsors, facilities, and current donors
- Creating videos and encouraging people to share them and create their own
Tronvig Credits: Anne Mieth, Art Director and James Heaton, Creative Director