Our Creative Process

Our Creative Process

ideastorm

Ideastorm

Getting A Smart Start Is Key

IdeaStorms are BC/DC Ideas’ unique project kick-off process. This in-person meeing allows our staff to gain a deeper understanding of your goals.

The facilitated half-day brainstorm is informative, strategic, and fun. It’s the perfect way to get the information our team needs while getting to know your team. We walk you through discovery and decision making processes so we walk out of the meeting with an action plan and distinct next steps.

The goal is to have fun, celebrate a new project and have total buy-in from the start.

feedback

Feedback

Feedback Makes The World Go Round

Feedback is how we’ll make the perfect product for your organization. Our processes is a 3 round process.

Importance of Rounds
We would all rather spend time launching the campaign instead of slogging through endless revisions. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Having rounds of feedback is critical to the collaborative process of creation. This allows the creator to fine tune the work after feedback is received. Contrary to many professional peoples belief. This whole process can be complete in 3 rounds. We get projects off the ground in record time. 

Services2

Services

How We Partner With You

We bring creative power to nonprofits across the country to have real impacts to people and movements. Let us help you amplify your mission.

We also deeply understand the “magic sauce” for nonprofit communication. We are able to apply what we’ve learned across sectors and clients to make highly effective communications that meet goals. We are a powerhouse in understanding what motivates individuals to act.

Strategy

We KNOW nonprofit communications and marketing. Since 2010, our agency has worked exclusively with nonprofits across the country to build communications programs. We’ve worked with a wide range of nonprofits to create annual plans to mini campaigns. We love listening to your problems and offering novel, affordable solutions that move the needle. We say we’re a “jack-of-all-trades and a master of nonprofits.”

Campaigns

Our team excels at putting together the elements of a winning campaign. To build momentum for a policy effort or introduce a new program to your constituents, the BC/DC Ideas team excels at creating detailed plans and support collateral to meet your goals. Our campaigns are strategic and cost effective.

  • In a state-wide campaign, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina partnered with our team to create a campaign to speak to millennials and communities of color to encourage them to get outside and use North Carolina’s incredible public land trust properties.
  • For the NC Early Education Foundation we implemented the national ThinkBabies communications strategies to reach influencers in early childhood development.
Social Engagement

Social media engagement is our bread and butter. We started the agency in 2010 with a deep network of connetions on Twitter. Since then, we’ve lived every day on the platforms and uniquely understand the ways to optomize organic and paid reach on these ever changing communications channels.

  • Reaching healthcare workers is never easy. It’s even harder when it’s a message about the HPV vaccine which has to hit during the already busy summer and in the thick of back-to-school appointments. Our project for the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable used engaging graphics and thoughtful tactics, the campaign garnered 500 tweets with the #HPVSuperFact hashtag from 171 different users. View the full results
  • Through a multichannel approach, BC/DC Ideas helped Audubon North Carolna win $19,000 for their nonprofit with a social media advertising budget of less than $500. Read the full story.
  • In a state-wide campaign, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina partnered with our team to create a campaign to speak to millennials and communities of color to encourage them to get outside and use North Carolina’s incredible public land trust properties.
  • For the NC Early Education Foundation we implemented the national ThinkBabies communications strategies to reach influencers in early childhood development.
Design

Pretty pieces need to move people to action. Our team of creative magicians bring ideas to life every day. From annual reports to brochures, infographics and reports, nonprofits need beautiful to design to support your mission.

  • Reaching healthcare workers is never easy. It’s even harder when it’s a message about the HPV vaccine which has to hit during the already busy summer and in the thick of back-to-school appointments. Our project for the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable used engaging graphics and thoughtful tactics, the campaign garnered 500 tweets with the #HPVSuperFact hashtag from 171 different users. View the full results
  • Through a multichannel approach, BC/DC Ideas helped Audubon North Carolna win $19,000 for their nonprofit with a social media advertising budget of less than $500. Read the full story.
  • In a state-wide campaign, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina partnered with our team to create a campaign to speak to millennials and communities of color to encourage them to get outside and use North Carolina’s incredible public land trust properties.
  • For the NC Early Education Foundation we implemented the national ThinkBabies communications strategies to reach influencers in early childhood development.
Coalition Communications

We create materials that INSPIRE audiences to act. We excel at developing communications that create a “surround sound” approach to messaging. We’ve developed strategies for coalitions with successful results:

  • For the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, we create annual engagement strategies and toolkits to promote HPV vaccination to parents and healthcare providers on a national level.
  • We are working with the Land for Tomorrow Coalition to activate its members to unite on messaging and promote the trust funds to legislators.
Video

Our team has crafted videos for nonprofits in numerous missions and focus areas. BC/DC Ideas excels at creating videos that bring life to your brand while keeping your goals in mind. Before we start video production, we will work with your team to create a cohesive look for the videos so they all feel like they are part of the same brand – yours.

  • We’ve been privileged to help tell visual stories for the American Cancer Society, University of North Carolina Medical Foundation, Duke University Press and Audubon North Carolina among others.
Websites

We strongly believe every nonprofit deserves modern website for fundraising, education, communications, tools and resources. The sites designed by BC/DC Ideas are easy-to-access, interactive hub for your supporters to make a positive impact in real time. We will help you streamline copy, create useful graphics and design a user flow that engages and inspires your base to act.

Paid Advertising

We MOTIVATE individuals to act. The BC/DC Ideas team has the depth of experience needed in activating audiences to change behavior. Through smart advertising.

  • We’ve worked in climate change communications for the National Audubon Society and continue to work for conservation organizations in the southeast region. We know what triggers action on this issue.
  • We worked with NC Child to place full-page ads in target legislative districts to further advocacy efforts and thank legislators.
Events

We SHINE as conference and event organizers and promoters. The BC/DC Ideas team has the depth of experience at creating buzz for nonprofit events – in person and virtual – you’re looking for. We host our own conference – Create Good – which attracts 200 nonprofit communicators from across the county. It’s been named by multiple groups over the years as a top conference for the field. Over the last 9 years our agency has been in business, our clients have chosen us to promote their events from galas to art markets and educational events. We have promoted free and paid events to a wide variety of audiences.

Ready to Discover a better Review Process?

Whether it’s in-person or virtual, Dawn will help your team uncover ways to make your team’s feedback process more efficient. 

Dawn is ready to speak at your next event!

An award-winning expert on nonprofit communications and creativity, Dawn is ready to speak at your next gathering. 

Kate Runy

CONTENT & MEDIA SPECIALIST

A passionate technical wizard, Kate thrives on managing online content, social media for communications, and development projects.  Kate is the workhorse of the team, pulling out amazing feats of content creation and management week in and week out. 

Prior to joining BC/DC Ideas, Kate coordinated website and social media content, communications, and advertising for Go Global NC and Alzheimer’s NC.

Things that make her happy: I love animals about as much as I love working for nonprofits.

Mishel Gomez Cespedes

CONTENT COORDINATOR

Mishel brings a passion for video storytelling and quippy social media content to the team.  At BC/DC Ideas, she is most likely editing video or scheduling the next moving social media post for our clients.

Her ear for storytelling is her greatest asset. Mishel has a unique ability to assemble content into a concise story that moves audiences to action.

A graduate of Wake Forest University she spent a semester in Spain and years serving her community through the campus organizations. Now, she is putting her passion for good to work.

Brian Crawford

creative director

Mix equal parts nerd and creativity and that’s Brian. A natural problem-solver, Brian’s ability to cut to the core of any problem helps guide our creative team to the correct solution without wasted time or money. It’s the core, this little nugget of truth, that helps our clients take the next step with their audiences.

Brian gets the greatest joy out of helping our clients realize and connect with their story. He is a true believer that everyone and every organization has a compelling story to tell, you just have to listen with an open heart.

Things that make him happy: Hanging out at the park with family, toddler-speak, hitting the focus pull, and good coffee.

Dawn Crawford

principal

The engine behind BC/DC Ideas, Dawn has dedicated her career to good. Dawn brings her considerable experience and expertise to helping elevate the nonprofit sector. Our team’s lead strategist, Dawn is often seen leading our IdeaStorms, penning communications plans, or checking in with clients.

Before launching BC/DC Ideas in 2010, she earned her chops in 10+ years of communications leadership roles for public health, healthcare and youth-focused nonprofits. Working for nonprofits is Dawn’s dream job, and she loves that her 40+ hours a week make the world a better place.

Things that make her happy: A glass of champagne to celebrate big wins, Basecamp, living in the South, seeing the world, and a well-formatted spreadsheet.