A presentation that outlines the highlights of my Senior Seminar project.

1. “Answering The Cries Of
Newborns,” - Assisting Newborns
In Need With Communication And
Outreach
Marisa Schmidt

2. Purpose of Project
• Newborns In Need is a national organization that’s dedicated to
answering the cries of poverty from families who have children from
newborn to 4 years. The Newborns In Need Chapter of Springfield,
Missouri is one of the largest chapters in the nation. When mothers and
other surrounding agencies arrive at Newborns In Need, they are given
clothes and other accessories to assist mothers and improve children’s
lives. What makes Newborns In Need unique from other organizations is
that 75% of the items that leave Newborns In Need are made from fabric
scraps and yarn, handcrafted in love and selflessness. To further
emphasize the purpose of the project, Newborns In Need is continually
in need of infant donations to return back to families and agencies
throughout Springfield and surrounding counties. This project will
address the needs of donations through social media management, grant
writing, and implementation of a quarterly newsletter.

3. Client
• Newborns In Need of Springfield, MO
• As one of the biggest chapters in the U.S., Newborns
in Need of Springfield, MO is continually in need of
donations, whether they are craft items to create
baby items or baby items themselves.
• Newborns In Need accepts items such as fabrics,
yarns, baby clothes, blankets, toiletries, ribbon,
elastic, and other baby or craft items.

4. Timeline

5. Timeline
• Client meetings took place every other week
to review results of social media efforts,
brainstorm ideas for newsletter, discuss grant
opportunities, and more.

6. Timeline
• Execution of deliverables calendar
– Social Media Posts: September 15, September 19,
September 20, September 22, September 23,
September 26, September 29, October 6, October
27.
– Quarterly Newsletter: October 1
– Junior League of Springfield Concept Note:
October 7
– Binnie Clements Guild Grant: October 30

7. Research
• Research was conducted to improve content and engagement on
Newborns In Need’s Facebook page, create meaningful content for
quarterly newsletters, and enhance grant writing skills. All three of these
research objectives were also aimed to achieve writing that conveyed a
sense of urgency and need within the organization.
• Research was also conducted to learn more about the national and local
organizatons, historically.
• Sources used:
– AdWeek (for writing social media content specific to nonprofits)
– BuffApp (for stats regarding Facebook engagement)
– Nonprofit Hub (for grant-writing resources)
– MailChimp (for engagement tips on newsletter writing)
– The Grantsmanship Center (for enhancing authentic grant-writing)
– newbornsinneedspringfield.org (for seeing history of Newborns In Need)
– Social Media Audit

8. Deliverables
• Deliverables
– Social Media
• #SleeperSaturday posts (3)
• #NewbornNewsday posts (9)
• Newsletter (1)
• JLF Grant (Concept Note for programs associated with
at-risk mothers and pregnant women) (1)
• Binnie Clements Guild Grant (Concept Note for
programs that help improve children’s lives in the
Springfield area) (1)

9. • Social Media
• #SleeperSaturday posts (3)
• #NewbornNewsday (6)
• Newsletter
• Fall Quarterly Newsletter (1)
• JLS Grant
• Concept Letter (1)
• Binnie Clements Grant
• Concept Letter (1)
Outline of Deliverables

10. #NewbornNewsday #1

11. #SleeperSaturday #1

12. #NewbornNewsday #2

13. #SleeperSaturday #1

14. #NewbornNewsday #4

15. #SleeperSaturday 3

16. #SleeperSaturday #5

17. #NewbornNewsday #6

18. #SleeperSaturday #7

19. JLS Concept Note for Grant

20. Binnie Clements Guild Grant Concept Letter

21. Quarterly Fall Newsletter

22. Moving Forward
• Analytics from social media postings will help the organization
narrow down what Facebook users engage with continually to
craft further messages.
• The newsletter will go out quarterly to remind people of
volunteer and donation opportunities, educate recipients of
recent news at the organization, and thank donors.
• The Binnie Clements Grant was due October 31. Grant awards
will be announced mid-November. If the grant money is
awarded, Newborns In Need will manufacture 700 Boppy Pillows
for children and mothers in the Springfield area.
• The Junior League of Springfield Grant is due Monday, February
16. If Newborns In Need is awarded this grant opportunity,
Junior League of Springfield will be assisting Newborns In Need
with three new programs.

23. Moving Forward
• Because the experience working with
Newborns In Need has been so rewarding and
meaningful, I am collaborating on an updated
website for the organization. The project will
take place over Christmas Break and the
website will go live by the beginning of
February.

24. “Answering The Cries Of
Newborns,” - Assisting Newborns
In Need With Communication And
Outreach
Marisa Schmidt

25. Questions?