How to Use Custom Maps to Benefit your Nonprofit's Cause
This map was included in an information brochure distributed to the Houston, Texas region to invite the community to learn more about the Galveston Bay Foundation. It shows their coverage area while highlighting landmarks and economic, ecological and demographic facts about the region.
This is one map in a series of maps and infographics I created to be included in a Medium article by American Rivers. This shows the journey water takes to get to the Denver and Front Range communities in Colorado. Try explaining that without a map!
If your job involves raising awareness and funds for a cause or purpose, then you know how hard it can be to get your audience to understand just how much work goes into making your organization operate successfully so you can make a difference. How can you really show people the true breadth of the work you do? One solution that I’ve found to be extremely effective, especially with my conservation clients, is custom maps. Here are a few environmental advocacy campaign examples.
This map was created to help members of the Lake Tahoe community understand how Tahoe Food Hub facilitates the transportation of food from 50+ local farms to Truckee, CA where it’s used by restaurants, in farm shares and sold in their very own farm shop.
Custom maps are a powerful visual.
They help people make the connection between a cause and a place and perhaps the people, plants and animals that live there. Maps are excellent tools that can be used in so many applications from reports and PowerPoint presentations to social media posts and direct mail pieces.
Think about how having a tailored map might help your audience visualize:
A JOURNEY: the route of a product, person or migratory animal.
WHERE YOU WORK: the overall coverage area where your work is done – if you serve or protect large areas, showing this on a map can really make people think “wow, they do a lot of work!”.
PROXIMITY: The proximity of one location to another.
YOUR SUCCESS: Specific areas that have been positively affected by your work .
AREAS OF NEED: Areas that may still need your help – imagine a map in your next annual appeal where you ask your donors for help completing a project.
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY: Promoting a town or place with a custom map can be a great way to engage your audience. These can be extra fun as stylized hand-drawn maps.
ITINERARIES: take your audience on a guided journey or road trip to multiple destinations with fun things to do along the way. This can be especially powerful in the sustainable travel and tourism industry.
Consider adding a map to your marketing toolbox, it might just help you reach a new audience, raise more funds or better educate a visual learner (that’s me).
Want to talk with me about making your own custom map? Drop me a note!
Denver’s Butterfly Pavilion covers a lot of ground with their conservation work. This world map highlights both their efforts around the world and where their butterflies are sourced.