Crystal Marie Render (left), founder of Magnificent Morsels Catering, is pictured with AMA Agency co-chair Sherri Ehlers, who served as the account manager for the Magnificent Morsels Catering team during AMA Agency’s inaugural year.

Ever thought about sharpening your marketing skills while exploring other areas of the industry? Launched in January, AMA Cincinnati Agency gives marketers the opportunity to work on six-month, pro-bono projects to hone your marketing abilities, develop leadership skills, and make a deeper connection with our community.

In its inaugural program year, AMA Agency supported seven local startups and nonprofits: The HELP Program, GreenLight Fund, Health Care Access Now, Nichefire, YEP! Fitness, Junebug Jewelry Designs, and Magnificent Morsels Catering. Marketing projects ranged from creating a strategic marketing plan and developing a social media calendar to drafting a strategic communications plan and optimizing a digital advertising program.

Nonprofits and startups are invited to apply to participate in AMA Agency by Nov. 22. Those that are accepted into the program will expand their marketing strategies and harness the expertise of marketing talent in the community. By connecting marketing volunteers with local nonprofits and startups, we can help to build community resiliency and foster our startup ecosystem. 

We’re actively recruiting for local marketers who can give about 10-20 hours per month to work on marketing projects with the nonprofits and startups who are accepted into AMA Agency. AMA membership is not required to participate, and all are welcome to be involved. (Though we definitely encourage you to join the essential community for connecting local marketers.)

Benefits for volunteer marketers include:

  • Sharpening your skills and gaining new experience.
  • Building your resume and portfolio.
  • Demonstrating your leadership ability.
  • Networking and connecting within the local marketing, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial communities.
  • Accessing project mentors and consultants.
  • Strengthening our local community with your talent and energy.

AMA member Julia Pegis participated in AMA Agency’s inaugural year and appreciated the opportunity the program provided to network with other like minded marketers in the community.

“Volunteering with the AMA Cincinnati Agency was such a fulfilling experience,” Julia said. “The opportunity to get to meet and work with other marketers in the Cincinnati area was a fun and hands-on way to gain exposure to other marketing professionals with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.”

Benefits for nonprofits and startups include:

  • Executing more effectively on your mission or scaling your business faster by elevating your marketing strategies.
  • Leveraging the expertise of marketing talent in our community.
  • Evolving your marketing strategy.
  • Developing tools and resources to elevate your marketing going forward.
  • Gaining visibility on the AMA Cincinnati website, emails, and social channels.

Crystal Marie Render, founder of Magnificent Morsels Catering, applied to participate in AMA Agency to develop and refine her marketing plan during the program’s inaugural year. “Know your value and demand your worth, but know how to leverage the market to find ‘your’ customer – priceless! AMA Agency taught me that,” Crystal said.

Marketers can sign up now to work on a pro-bono marketing project through AMA Agency. Learn more about the program here. Nonprofits and startups can apply to participate in the program by Nov. 22. Have questions? Email outreach@amacincinnati.org.