[The Modern Marketer] Building Impactful Nonprofit Marketing With Oceanna Lenon

PodCast | Jan 13, 2025

Felicity Porter and Oceanna Lenon feature for The RAW Spotlight podcast, Modern Marketer series.

Oceanna Lenon is a Communications Coordinator at the ACE Mentor Program of America, a nonprofit organization that mentors high school students pursuing careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. As an ACE alumni, Oceanna has enhanced the organization’s outreach by contributing to a project that garnered a $1.2 million economic impact for 700 students. She has experience crafting narratives and optimizing digital experiences.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[02:49] What inspired Oceanna Lenon to pursue a career in digital marketing and e-commerce?
[04:09] How Cal Poly Pomona’s hands-on experiences prepare its students for careers in marketing
[05:34] Key marketing lessons from leading global brands like Toyota
[10:52] Overcoming imposter syndrome as a young marketing professional
[12:50] The importance of prioritizing key metrics that measure marketing performance
[16:27] How to keep up with trends in digital marketing and e-commerce
[19:36] Leveraging networking for career growth
[22:33] Top tips for building meaningful client relationships and generating referrals
[23:21] Oceanna’s unconventional advice to young marketers

In this episode…

Nonprofit marketing isn’t just about sharing information; it’s about creating connections and driving impact. How can you craft compelling stories that resonate with audiences while staying true to an organization’s mission? What strategies make nonprofit marketing effective?

According to passionate digital marketer and nonprofit storyteller Oceanna Lenon, the key lies in aligning each narrative with the organization’s mission. She highlights the role of authentic stories in showcasing the human side of an organization’s work, helping audiences see the tangible impact of their support. By focusing on the people and emotions behind the mission rather than just the numbers, nonprofits can foster deeper engagement and build lasting relationships. Oceanna also stresses the importance of staying curious and constantly refining strategies using data-driven insights to amplify outreach.

In this episode of RAW Spotlight, host Felicity Porter sits down with Oceanna Lenon, Communications Coordinator at the ACE Mentor Program of America, to discuss how nonprofits can harness storytelling and data to create impactful marketing campaigns. Oceanna shares her journey from starting a small business to working in nonprofit communications, her strategies for navigating imposter syndrome, and how young marketers can use tools like networking and storytelling to grow their careers.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments

“Never think that you’re not capable. You can learn your target market just like the big brands did.”
“I started to understand that you got this. It’s just a learning process.”
“The more stories you gather and tell, the more impact you create for your organization.”
“Be open and honest. The more true you are to your mission, the better referrals you’ll get.”
“Read as much as you can. Whether that’s in marketing or not, it will help you so much.”

Action Steps

Embrace practical experience through projects: Engaging in real-life projects, such as case studies and business plans, provides hands-on experience essential for understanding target markets and business operations.
Leverage networking opportunities: Building connections with mentors and industry professionals can open doors to opportunities and support that might not be accessible otherwise, helping to overcome initial career hurdles.
Utilize data-driven tools for decision-making: A data-driven approach allows marketers to make informed decisions, continuously improving their strategies in response to audience behavior.
Engage in continuous learning: Staying curious and informed about the latest trends in digital marketing and e-commerce is crucial. Setting aside time to read industry news and explore new platforms keeps marketers agile and ready to adapt to changes.
Focus on storytelling in nonprofit marketing: Telling compelling stories that align with an organization’s mission can significantly enhance its marketing efforts.

Sponsor for this episode…

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