Some Smart (and Hard!) Nonprofit Marketing Questions

Today the Chronicle of Philanthropy hosted an online chat on getting started in nonprofit marketing, based on my free e-book “The First 100 Days of Your New Nonprofit Marketing Job.” Sandra Bate, executive director of marketing for the Indiana University Foundation, joined me in fielding the questions, such as

Most media outlets don’t want to include event sponsors in the stories. So how do I get the word out and add value for them?
What are the low resource/cost options for discovering what is gripping or engaging to our market?
How do you pull the heart strings of prospective donors when your “good cause” is education versus humanitarian aid, animal rights or even art? What is a history museum to do?
How do you launch an effective campaign to restore the reputation of a nonprofit?
What are the two most important / effective things marketers can do to help promote their organization to the public, when we have very few dollar and people resources?
What is the best way to craft a marketing message in this hyper competitive market?
Are print materials passe?
When you grant funds, as well as seek funding, how do you balance the two?
How important do you feel it is to equip your board of directors with effective marketing tools such as a powerful case for support statement?
In an economic climate where critical needs are looming large, we’re finding it difficult to create a message of “compelling need” when our mission is to open the first dog parks in Birmingham.
How do you re-energize a longstanding nonprofit’s image in the community?