Common Questions about the Communications/Marketing Community of Practice

Q. Is there a cost to participate in the CoP?

A. No. Participation in the COP, including the teleconferences, online discussion group and blog, is a free benefit with your Alliance for Children and Families membership.

Q. How do I join the CoP?

A. Simply fill out and submit this short form.

Q. Can I join more than one CoP?

A. Of course! Other CoPs include Chief Financial Officers, Human Resources, Public Policy and Advocacy, Resource Development Services, Volunteer Management. Just fill out and submit this form to join another CoP.

Q. Who manages the CoP?
A. John Barr, chief marketing officer at Hillside Family of Agencies directs the CoP alongside Alliance staff Malcolm McIntyre, director of communications and special projects, and Nicole Klaas in our communications department.

Q. Who participates in the CoP?
A. The CoP is comprised of individuals in Alliance member agencies whose responsibilities are vested primarily in communications, marketing, public relations and allied disciplines such as development, external affairs, or media relations.

Q. What is the purpose of the CoP?

A. Given our common efforts, the CoP is a natural community to share knowledge, experiences, skills with Alliance members which will facilitate national networking opportunities, enhance member knowledge of communications and marketing information and improve creativity in addressing challenges in the nonprofit human services sector.

Q. What does the CoP do?

A. The CoP can do a variety of activities and is designed around what you, as Alliance members, need and want. Currently, the CoP
  • develops a designated track of workshops at the Alliance national conference each October.
  • conducts teleconferences on “hot” issues in the nonprofit human services sector or on issues Alliance members wish to learn more about or want to discuss with peers.
  • manages an advisory group of Alliance members who help steer the CoP’s activities.
  • facilitates a blog to exchange information online between members.
  • establishes a central repository of information and materials for members.

Q. How is the CoP different from other professional organizations?

A. Although several organizations (such as Public Relations Society of America and American Marketing Association) can provide networking opportunities and information on career fields, the CoP provides a unique perspective because it is exclusive to the nonprofit human services sector.

Back to the Comm/Mktg CoP main page.

(c) 2008 - Alliance for Children and Families: www.alliance1.org