Currents of Community Local Fundraising Dinner, Hosted by Engage Winona, October 2023
Winona in Focus
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Brief Overview
Client: Myself
Problem: Propose and execute a passion project aimed at addressing real-world challenges within the span of one semester.
Medium: Photography, Booklet, Illustrator, In-Design
Description: Winona in Focus is how I redefine the impact of visual storytelling, focusing on the powerful intersection of photography and social change. Collaborating with local non-profits, I created a comprehensive guide, illuminating the path for individuals eager to contribute their photographic skills to nonprofits with efficiency and purpose.
Client
Myself / Local Winona Non Profits
Problem
Propose and execute a passion project aimed at addressing real-world challenges within the span of one semester.
Role
Project Manager / Designer
Solution
Winona in Focus is a project centered around using volunteer photographic storytelling to ease overwhelm in nonprofits. This endeavor is detailed in a guide I developed, serving as a comprehensive philosophy, process, and step-by-step approach for individuals seeking to connect with and volunteer photography to nonprofits.
In my advanced design project journey, I delved into researching nonprofits to understand the reasons behind their failures and successes, with a focus on addressing the prevalent Overwhelm Syndrome. I uncovered recurring themes in nonprofit failures, including resistance to technology, inadequate planning, recruitment challenges, and ethical shortcomings. On the positive side, my exploration of successful nonprofits highlighted effective management, productivity dedication, adaptability to the digital age, and robust marketing for awareness and fundraising.
To deepen my understanding, I explored challenges nonprofits face, drawing insights from credible sources like the Stanford Social Innovation Review and the National Council of Nonprofits. The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle, marked by underfunding, understaffing, and underappreciation, stood out as a pervasive struggle. Staffing difficulties and the recognition of Overwhelm Syndrome added layers of complexity.
Motivated to address these challenges, I shifted my focus to proposing practical solutions, aiming to alleviate overwhelm by understanding the impact of overwork on productivity and implementing mitigating strategies. Additionally, I delved into specific areas to enhance nonprofit operations, exploring photo licensing for nonprofits, investigating guerrilla marketing tactics, and understanding the potential of projection marketing.
Armed with this comprehensive knowledge, I reached out to potential collaborators, crafting cold-call emails for the Winona Post and three nonprofit organizations. The emphasis was on aligning narratives with values and outlining mutual benefits. This process showcases an understanding of nonprofit challenges and a proactive approach to address these issues for overall effectiveness.
At the beginning of the semester, my primary objective was to create a photo and design campaign for nonprofits and community support services. Initially, I aimed to collaborate with at least five non-profits, setting an ambitious target for myself. However, I soon recognized the impracticality of this goal. The first attempt at collaboration exposed shortcomings in my contact methods, offering valuable lessons for improvement.
