What Nonprofits Can Learn from For-Profit Marketers (Yes, Really)

This week’s Marketing Moment comes from our friends in the for-profit world via Chief Marketer, and while the piece was written with retailers in mind, the takeaways are very relevant for those of us in nonprofit marketing—especially arts orgs working with small teams and tighter budgets.

Here’s the headline: Paid social media is on the rise—but email is still one of the most effective channels across ALL generations.

As nonprofits, we might not chase “sales” the way clothing brands do, but we do rely on clicks, conversions, and engagement—whether that means ticket purchases, donations, or community involvement. This article breaks down which digital channels are performing best, how marketers are adapting to tricky economic conditions, and why empathy, personalization, and storytelling are more important than ever.

Key takeaways:

• Paid social is where the “fish” are swimming—but your bait needs to tell a story, not sell a product.

• Email isn’t dead (despite the rumors). In fact, it’s thriving across Boomers to Gen Z.

• Personalization = power. Whether in emails, texts, or social content, it’s what cuts through.

• If you’re experimenting with AI, your biggest hurdle may not be the tools—it’s the data.

As we've discussed in past "Marketing Moments", your marketing plan is only as strong as your ability to align messaging with the right people on the right platforms. This article reinforces that—and gives us a reason to re-evaluate how we're blending paid, organic, and email strategies moving into 2025.

📌 Full article here: Chief Marketer | Paid Social + Email Report

Are you using paid social in your marketing mix?

Still seeing results from email?

Let me know what’s working (or not!) in the comments👇