Making Smart Marketing Decisions When Every Dollar Matters

At Give Back Prince William, our Ad BuAt Give Back Prince William, our Ad Buy Programs begin with a question many nonprofits ask quietly, often after money has already been spent:

Where should we actually put our marketing dollars?

Radio?
Digital ads?
Print?
Geofencing?
Social media?
A magazine?
Some combination of all of it?

The honest answer is this: it depends.
And for nonprofits, guessing is expensive.

The Challenge Nonprofits Face

Many nonprofits have access to grant funding or campaign budgets that allow for marketing and outreach. What they often do not have is the internal expertise to evaluate media options, compare true value, or negotiate pricing.

Marketing vendors are persuasive. Platforms change constantly. Promises sound good on paper. And once money is spent, it is rarely easy to undo a decision that did not work.

Without guidance, nonprofits are often left choosing based on:

  • What feels familiar
  • What someone else recommended
  • What worked once, years ago
  • What sounds impressive in a report

None of those are strategies.

What This Program Actually Does

The Ad Buy Program exists to help nonprofits slow down, step back, and make intentional decisions about visibility.

Sometimes digital advertising makes sense.
Sometimes print performs better than expected.
Sometimes radio reaches exactly the right audience.
Sometimes geofencing is useful.
Sometimes it is not.

Our role is not to push platforms.
Our role is to ask better questions.

We help nonprofits think through:

  • Who they are trying to reach
  • What action they want people to take
  • When timing matters more than volume
  • Which platforms align with mission and audience
  • What success should reasonably look like

Just as importantly, we help organizations identify what not to buy.

What’s Included in the Ad Buy Program

Strategic Media Planning

We evaluate marketing goals, audience, timeline, and budget before recommending any platform or placement. Decisions are grounded in purpose, not trends.

Platform Evaluation

We help nonprofits understand the real strengths and limitations of:

  • Digital and social advertising
  • Print and magazine placements
  • Radio and broadcast
  • Geofencing and location-based marketing
  • Web and content partnerships

Each option is weighed against the organization’s goals, not generalized benchmarks.

Negotiation & Purchasing Support

Nonprofits should not pay retail when better options exist. We negotiate with media outlets, developers, social platforms, and content partners to secure fair pricing and added value.

Contributed Ad Dollars (When Available)

For qualified nonprofits, Give Back Prince William may contribute ad dollars to help stretch limited budgets further and increase campaign reach.

Campaign Coordination

We help ensure messaging, timing, and placement work together so marketing efforts support participation, education, and engagement rather than existing in isolation.

Why This Matters

Nonprofits do not have unlimited resources. Marketing dollars are often tied to grants, accountability, and public trust.

Poor media decisions do not just waste money. They dilute impact.

Our Ad Buy Programs are designed to help nonprofits:

  • Spend responsibly
  • Make defensible decisions
  • Improve outcomes tied to real engagement
  • Support grant goals and reporting
  • Avoid one-off purchases that do not build momentum

This is not about impressions for the sake of impressions. It is about visibility that supports action.

Who This Program Is For

Ad Buy Programs are well-suited for:

  • Nonprofits with grant-funded marketing or outreach budgets
  • Organizations running awareness, education, or recruitment campaigns
  • Groups preparing for fundraising or public initiatives
  • Teams that want guidance before committing resources

If your organization is asking, “Where should we put this money so it actually helps?” this program is designed for you.

A Thoughtful Approach to Visibility

Good marketing does not need to be loud.
It needs to be clear, well-placed, and intentional.

The Ad Buy Program exists to help nonprofits make choices they can stand behind, explain to funders, and build upon over time.

Call to Action

Let’s talk before you buy.

If your organization is planning a campaign or managing marketing dollars and wants strategic guidance before committing resources, we invite you to start with a conversation.

👉 Schedule a strategy call with Rebecca Barnes
https://www.rebeccabarnes.media