Brand It Like You Mean It
Consistent Branding
for Nonprofits and Small Businesses
If you’ve ever said, “Wait, is this the right logo?” or “What font do we use again?” then this post is for you.
Whether you’re running a small business or a growing nonprofit, having clear, accessible brand guidelines are a must-have. Think of them as your brand’s cheat sheet. A handy guide to keeping your look and voice consistent no matter who’s creating the content.
Your brand is so much more than just a logo. It’s the tone of your messaging, the colors in your brochure and the overall feeling your social posts create. In a world where first impressions often happen online, consistency builds recognition. Recognition builds trust. And trust builds support.
Without brand guidelines, things start to drift. A slightly off-brand font here, a stretched-out logo there. Suddenly, your marketing materials don’t look like they’re coming from the same organization and your audience feels it, even if they can’t name it.
What to Include in Consistent Branding for Nonprofits and Small Businesses
You don’t need a 13-page manual (unless you want one). A simple one-sheeter or something interactive like a Canva Whiteboard can be just as effective and way more fun to share with your team, volunteers or board members.
At minimum, your brand guidelines should include:
- Approved logo variations (with usage notes)
- Your brand colors – with HEX, RGB and/or CMYK codes
- Fonts and typeface preferences
- Messaging tone and voice notes (Are you formal? Playful? Warm and conversational?)
- Any layout or formatting do’s and don’ts
- Bonus if you can provide photography or visual style examples
Even if you’re a small org with a mighty mission, brand consistency matters. It helps your organization show up professionally to donors, grantors, partners and community members. It saves time, prevents confusion and ensures your message lands every time.
Let’s make it easy & fun!
At D’Eramo Creative, we can help you create brand guidelines that actually get used. Whether you need a quick reference sheet, a polished PDF or an interactive Canva whiteboard your whole team can collaborate on, we’ll tailor it to what works best for you.